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Dan Kraker
Duluth

Ex-coaches, athletes claim gender discrimination at UMD

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UMD women's hockey coach Shannon Miller
Fomer UMD women's hockey coach Shannon Miller, February 11, 2015.
Derek Montgomery | For MPR News file

A former University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey coach and seven others have filed a complaint against the university alleging gender discrimination.

Shannon Miller, two other former coaches and five current or former student athletes filed the Title IX complaint this week with the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education.

The complaint alleges 53 instances of disparities in athletic participation opportunities, facilities, travel expenses and other benefits and services provided to women's athletics at the university.

The alleged disparities include a difference of $273,590 in funding between the men's and women's hockey teams, and a men's basketball locker room that's five times larger than the women's locker room.

According to the complaint, when a coach raised the issue, the university responded that "'smaller' women don't need the same space as 'larger' male athletes," and no action was taken.

The complaint was filed by Miller, former softball coach Jennifer Banford and former basketball coach Annette Wiles, along with five former and current student-athletes.

UMD spokeswoman Lynne Williams said the university was reviewing the complaint.

"We continue to refute any claims or allegations of discrimination," Williams said, adding that the university would "definitely fully comply with any investigation."

The complaint asks for an investigation to determine whether UMD is violating Title IX.

Miller, Banford and Wiles and two other former coaches filed a lawsuit against the university's Board of Regents in September. They argue they lost their jobs in part because they are openly gay women.

Oakland attorney Dan Siegel, who represents the three former coaches in their lawsuit, said he expects the Office of Civil Rights to decide whether to investigate UMD in the next two months.