Another day at Rutgers, another day of controversy.
Just days after accusations of Julie Hermann’s verbal abuse to her players while serving as the women’s volleyball coach at Tennessee was made public, it has also been revealed that the new Rutgers athletic director was involved in a sex discrimination lawsuit at Louisville in 2008, while employed as a senior athletics administrator, according to the New York Times.
Mary Banker, an assistant track and field coach at the time, said she told Hermann about sexist behavior and “discriminatory treatment” by the head coach, but that within three weeks of voicing her complaints, Banker was fired. The lawsuit holds Hermann most responsible for Banker’s termination.
Greg Trevor, a spokesman for Rutgers, said Hermann had brought the lawsuit to the attention of Richard Edwards, the co-chairman of Rutgers’ search committee, before her hiring.
According to legal filings, Hermann e-mailed Banker after hearing the latter’s complaints, saying:
“Thank you … We’re lucky to have you … You’re a change agent … don’t let their limitations take you out of the game … thank god you’re here.”
However, the lawsuit said she was then treated poorly by head coach Ron Mann, though according to the lawsuit, Hermann offered to help Banker find a new job after she was fired in May 2008.
A jury originally awarded Banker $300,000 in emotional damages and lost wages, plus lawyer fees, but a Kentucky appeals court overturned the decision, citing Banker’s inability to prove retaliatory actions from Louisville officials.
Banker’s lawyer, Bryan Cassis, is attempting to take the case to the Kentucky Supreme Court. The lawsuit states that after Banker’s complaint, “Hermann called Banker into her office and flat-out told her, ‘You should not have gone to HR.’ It also states Hermann said, “I don’t know how I’m going to restore trust in you amongst staff now,” and “I don’t know how you’re going to work downstairs after this.”
Louisville’s athletics department contends that Banker’s firing was a result of displeasure with her performance, from Hermann and Mann, particularly in recruiting.