MINNEAPOLIS — A senior associate athletics director at the University of Minnesota has gone on leave while outside lawyers investigate five anonymous complaints lodged against him since the resignation of athletics director Norwood Teague.

University spokesman Evan Lapiska says Mike Ellis agreed to take voluntary time off while the complaints are investigated by outside lawyers. They’re the same attorneys hired to investigate the circumstances of Teague’s resignation, which followed sexual harassment allegations from two high-level administrators.

Lapiska says he can’t disclose the nature of the five complaints against Ellis, which he says were received via the university’s EthicsPoint reporting system.

He says Ellis remains a university employee and has been cooperating fully.

Ellis did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Thursday.