The University of Iowa Athletics Department has settled a discrimination case with its former field hockey coach.
Tracey Griesbaum was fired in 2014 over complaints about her coaching that a university investigation failed to confirm. She sued the department on grounds of gender and sexual orientation discrimination and her case was scheduled to go to trial in June.
Earlier this month, a related trial involving a former UI athletics administrator ended with a jury awarding Jane Meyer $874-thousand in back wages plus $1.4 million in damages.
Now, Griesbaum and the university have reached a settlement agreement. She’ll receive nearly $1.5 million in back wages and damages.
The university’s athletic department also will pay more than $2.6 million in legal fees for the two cases.
Supporters of women’s athletics say the decisions should send a message to other programs that women will not tolerate discrimination.
No taxpayer or tuition dollars will be used to pay the settlements.
