Court filings include wrongful termination, age discrimination, Title IX violations
CHENEY — An Eastern Washington University athletics department already saddled with an ongoing deficit and cuts to its budget, now has a potential $5 million lawsuit hanging over it following the filing of a lengthy tort claim brought by former women’s basketball coach Wendy Schuller.
Among the charges in the June 18 complaint brought against EWU, and athletics director Lynn Hickey in particular, Schuller contends her March 31 firing was unjust.
But Schuller goes on to make additional claims of age and gender discrimination, as well as Hickey disregarding multiple allegations against Eastern football players for domestic violence and her failure to follow Title IX reporting rules.
The suit contends that Hickey wanted to meet with Schuller March 17 to provide that review but postponed that until March 31. The performance review was to be sent to Schuller in advance but never was according to court documents. Schuller met with Hickey on March 31 only to be handed her termination letter.
There was no indication that her firing was forthcoming, Schuller said.
“When our season ended, we went about our typical end of year process with meetings and things and then recruiting,” Schuller said. “Nobody said ‘Don’t recruit, nobody said anything, I mean there was literally just radio silence.’”
Recently landed recruit, Jacinta Buckley, a Lewis & Clark High School grad and UNLV transfer, was one of those. “We recruited her OK, she committed to us,” Schuller said.
Had her won-lost record been the basis for her firing, Schuller suggested that conversation might have taken place March 10 when the season ended with a first-round loss in the Big Sky Conference tournament. Schuller has an overall mark of 277-322 in her two decades as coach, including 166-169 in Big Sky play.
Instead, the suit suggests the split being fueled by retaliation against Schuller by Hickey for a variety of issues.
Those include reluctance to accept terms on a new contract that included a reduction in pay due to loss of revenue from to COVID-19.
Schuller also pushed for reporting of alleged domestic violence incidents by members of EWU’s football team but nothing came of them. The suit also says that some students who had indicated they would be witnesses suddenly decided not to testify.
Age discrimination is also an element of the filing. Schuller, who had the qualifications to be considered for an opening as a Senior Women’s Administrator was told by Hickey “not to bother” applying for the position.
Another issue noted in the suit are safety issues pertaining to the playing surface at Reese Court. “That court is way past its lifespan,” Schuller said, adding it has attributed to numerous injuries from both her team and EWU volleyball.
Teams were told that the university would not pay for the new gym floor but they could try to raise money for the work.
Aside from being informed that her contract would not be renewed, the remaining year is also not being honored, Schuller said.
Schuller also suggested that hers might not be the only legal action against the school. Very successful women’s soccer coach Chad Bodnar was also recipient of news May 10 that his contract would not be renewed.
“AD Hickey actively and publicly commented on her desire to terminate the women’s soccer coach Chad Bodnar after he returned from medical leave,” the suit says.
Schuller, who was head coach at Eastern for 20 years is the school’s winningest women’s basketball coach, is being represented by the Spokane law firm of Dunn & Black.
As is customary in matters like this, EWU has refused so far to comment on the suit.
Paul Delaney is a retired Free Press Publishing reporter and can be reached at pauldelaney53@comcast.net.
Reader Comments(0)