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Former Nevada coach's trial underway

By Erin Buzuvis, Sudha Setty, and Kristine Newhall

Former University of Nevado-Reno soccer coach Terri Patraw is spending this week in court as she pursues her retaliation claim against the university that dismissed her for reasons they claim include stalker another coach and lying about her time at Arizona State University where, according to UNR officials she had an inappropriate relationship with a student.
We have blogged about Patraw's case previously (including the dismissal of her whistleblower complaint), but it seems the "facts" keep changing. At one point there was a sexual harassment claim but that appears to have gone away. It has not been disputed that Patrow had a relationship with an assistant basketball coach. What happened when that relationship ended is currently under dispute with UNR claiming she stalked him.
But Patraw and her lawyers claim all this is a smoke screen put up to hide the fact that she was fired, after receiving an unusually long contract extension (2 and a half years), for complaining about Title IX violations including access to locker rooms and equitable salary as well as NCAA violations, including ones perpetuated by another coach.
So arguments are underway and it's looking pretty ugly. The term "character assassination" is being thrown around.
Arguments should wrap up some time this week.

Full post as published by Title IX Blog on April 22, 2009 (boomark / email).