Settlement reached in UT athletics discrimination suit
A settlement in excess of $1 million has been reached in the gender discrimination lawsuit brought by former members of the University of Tennessee athletics department.
Former UT employees Jenny Moshak, Heather Mason and Collin Schlosser were members of the university's women's athletics department before it was combined with the men's department in 2012. Up to that point, Tennessee was one of the few major universities with separate departments for men and women's sports. The employees alleged that less qualified, less experienced members of the men's athletics department received better jobs when the two departments were combined.
This marks the second discrimination suit that rose out of the consolidation to be settled. Former sports information director Debby Jennings settled her suit for $320,000 in 2014. Thanks in particular to its stellar women's basketball program led for many years by legendary coach Pat Summitt, the women's athletics department was lauded as a national model.
After the consolidation, Schlosser was terminated while Moshak and Mason were given lesser positions than they had in the women's athletics department, according to their complaint.
“It would not be proper to comment more fully at this point as there is continuing litigation regarding attorneys’ fees but regardless of the amount awarded in fees the total settlement will be in excess of $1 million," plaintiffs attorneys Stewart Dupree and Lisa Banks said in a joint statement. "The resolution of this matter stands as a testament to the importance of equality for women in sports and those working with women in sports. This settlement sends a clear message to collegiate decision-makers nationwide that disparity in pay, opportunity, funding, participation or otherwise is unacceptable in this day and time."
Lady Vols legacy threatened by lawsuits, name change
According to the two federal lawsuits, 12 of the 15 staffers laid off as a result of the consolidation were women, while seven of the eight members of Athletics Director and Vice Chancellor Dave Hart's leadership team were men. Hart was hired after the university's decision to combine the two departments, but led the implementation of the consolidation plan. The university said last year that a broader examination of its top athletics staff showed that women and minorities were well represented.
Tennessee sent out a press release saying the settlement, filed in federal court on Monday, was for $750,000 for the three former employees and an undetermined total in attorney's costs, which will be set by the court. The two sides agreed that attorney's fees will be at least $300,000 and no more than $475,000.
"The university believed that settling this matter at this time was in the best long-term interest of the university. The university unequivocally denies that any of the three former employees suffered any discrimination or retaliation," Tennessee's press release stated. "The settlement is not an admission of liability or any wrongdoing by the university. The settlement will be paid entirely from athletics department revenues and will not include any state tax dollars, student tuition dollars or donor gift dollars."
The federal suits came amid controversy over Tennessee's decision to rebrand its women's sports teams as well. Effective last July, all women's sports teams except basketball had their nicknames changed from the Lady Vols to the Volunteers. Critics have slammed that decision and a state lawmakers has filed a bill to bring back the Lady Vols name.
Staff writer Stacey Barchenger contributed to this story. Reach Nate Rau at 615-259-8094 and on Twitter @tnnaterau.