Ex-Minnesota coaches seek $18M in damages in Title IX suit
Three University of Minnesota Duluth ex-coaches are suing their former employer for $18 million in damages. The former head coaches Shannon Miller (women’s hockey), Jen Banford (softball) and Annette Wiles (women’s basketball) allege discrimination based on age, gender, sexual orientation and national origin. They cite discrimination as they reason their contracts were not renewed.
The plaintiffs seek back pay, front pay, damages for emotional distress, compensatory damages and attorneys’ fees.
Banford and Wiles are each seeking $5 million in damages. Banford was the head softball coach and the director of operations for the women’s hockey team. Wiles was the head women’s basketball coach until she alleges she was forced to resign last year.
Miller is seeking $8 million in damages. During Miller’s 16 years of employment, she won five NCAA Division I titles. In 2014, Miller and Banford’s contracts were not renewed.
Canadian and the three ex-coaches identify as gay. The plaintiffs allege “discrimination by an educational institution receiving federal assistance, reprisal because of their reporting of that discrimination, creation of a hostile work environment, violation of federal and state equal pay statutes, and violation of the Minnesota Whistleblower Act.”
The university has denied the claims made by the plaintiffs, noting that Miller’s replacement is a woman who identifies as gay, and that Banford and Wiles’ replacements are both women.
