In 2010, the head coach for the women’s Ball State tennis team was terminated. She had coached the team for just under 21 years before allegations were made that she had committed NCAA rules violations. The school claimed in 2009 that she committed six “major” infractions, which they voluntarily reported to the NCAA. These accusations acted as the basis for the school’s decision to fire the tennis coach.
When the school ended her career, the tennis coach claimed that she had been the victim of a wrongful termination. She took her belief public when she filed a wrongful termination lawsuit, which was set for trial in April of this year. The trial was later postponed and rescheduled for this upcoming November. During that time, a settlement was reached in which the school agreed to pay their former coach $710,000.
The claims that were used as the basis for the termination included a claim that the former tennis coach gave two prospective students loans in the amount of $125 five days before classes were set to begin in August 2009. The loans were allegedly provided for the students’ dorm room deposits. Another claim alleged that the tennis coach asked three different students to report that their practice hours were different from what was actually performed.
When the former tennis coach spoke up about the termination, more details came to light. According to the veteran coach, the real basis for the termination was retaliation for the sexual discrimination complaints that she made in the past. In her lawsuit, she claimed defamation, breach of contract, retaliation and denial of due process. The damages sought were to compensate her for lost wages, compensatory and punitive damages, court costs and other expenses, including legal fees.
Source: The Star Press, “Fired BSU coach gets $710K settlement,” June 29, 2012
