Shannon Miller, 2 other former UMD file discrimination lawsuit

The former coaches and their attorneys are expected to provide additional details at a 1 p.m. news conference in Eden Prairie, Minn.

However, Miller believes it was retribution for years of complaints she raised over budget disparities with the men’s program, and a lack of university concern over hate mail, among other things.

In a statement, University Chancellor Lendley Black said the school refutes the allegations and claims of discrimination and will “aggressively defend” itself in the lawsuit.

Black cited “other viewpoints” among those in UMD’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and in Duluth as a whole. “There is a significant difference of opinion on these issues”.

Miller led the Bulldogs to five NCAA national championships, but UMD officials cited a budget deficit when they told her last December that they would not renew her contract.

Miller was UMD’s first head women’s hockey coach.

Two of the plaintiffs suing the Board of Regents say they were fired also because they are Canadian, and two of them claim age discrimination because they are older than 40.

One morning, she wouldn’t say exactly when, Shannon Miller rolled into work as usual.

Attorneys said athletic director Josh Berlo orchestrated much of the problems. even so, they said the university did not appropriately respond to the repeated complaints to administration and human resources. Miller also claims in the suit she received newspaper clippings showing the disparity between the attendance at men’s and women’s hockey games with Miller’s salary written on the clippings.

According to the Star Tribune, Black released a statement today saying the university had handled these issues.

Prior to the December 9 meeting, Miller was not provided with any indication that her contract would not be renewed, for financial reasons or otherwise. She wasn’t offered the chance to take a pay cut, which she had done in the past. Miller also alleges that the same unnamed co-worker told several co-workers he “would be the one to bring Miller down”.

Miller’s contract at UMD expired in June. “I’m concerned about what this says to society about the value of women”.

September 28: Miller, Jen Banford (softball) and Annette Wiles (basketball) filed a discrimination lawsuit in District Court. “I support the leadership, direction and positive momentum of UMD Bulldog athletics”.

But Miller said working at UMD became intolerable after Berlo’s arrival from Notre Dame in April 2013.

The lawsuit also alleges that all three coaches were bullied out of practice time and space as well as equipment.

Wiles says she was forced out because of her gender and sexual orientation. She alleges Berlo and assistant athletic director Abbey Strong “established a pattern of disrespect, exclusion, and lack of civility in their interactions with Wiles”.

And past year, the University of Minnesota paid almost $360,000 to former golf coach Katie Brenny after a judge ruled that she was discriminated against because of her sexual orientation.