The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill agreed, after six years, to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former women’s soccer player and consequently pay $70,000.
Two UNC players, Debbie Keller and Melissa Jennings, filed a federal lawsuit in 1998 against the university, several faculty members and the women’s soccer coach, Anson Dorrance. Keller and Jennings alleged Dorrance made unwanted sexual advances, involved the team in discussions about their sexual activities and interfered with their religious rights, among other claims.
The settlement resolves Keller’s portion of the lawsuit.
In exchange for the $70,000 UNC is paying her, Keller agreed to drop the charge that Dorrance made sexual advances. Dorrance agreed to sign a letter stating he engaged the team in group discussions, made in a “teasing or jesting manner” about their sexual relationships or activities with men.
“Both sides are pleased the settlement was reached, and I don’t think that either side would have settled if they weren’t satisfied with the terms,” said Dave Lohse, Associate Communications Director at UNC.
The terms of the settlement also state that Dorrance must attend sensitivity training in a number of areas, such as sexual harassment and gender issues in coaching for the next eight years. If Dorrance does not attend sensitivity training any of the eight years, he must pay Keller $10,000 of his personal money.
Lohse said UNC is not considering firing Dorrance, whose women’s soccer team has won 18 national championships.
“Oh, no, not at all … the coach will not be fired,” Lohse said. “In the settlement, the player states she wasn’t approached [sexually] by Dorrance. Had that been the case, this would be a different story. That’s why we fought the case in court rather than settling it six years ago.”
University of Wisconsin Medical School professor Greg Landry said while he is not aware of a similar instance at UW, he feels it is suitable for athletes to challenge their university and coach in court.
“Clearly there are abusive coaches,” Landry said. “When they’re over the line and do things as this coach did, then it’s appropriate for athletes to take them to task over it. But [UNC] is in a tough spot when it comes to the ‘he said,’ ‘she said’ instances.”
Jennings’ lawsuit is still pending and seeks $12 million in damages and an injunction barring Dorrance from coaching. The trial for that case is scheduled for Oct. 4, and Jennings’ attorney has said his client has no wish to settle with UNC.
No other UNC athletes have ever made claims similar to these against Dorrance, who has coached the UNC women’s soccer team for more than 25 years.
Dorrance wrote a book about his success as a coach, titled “The Vision of a Champion: Advice and Inspiration from the World’s Most Successful Women’s Soccer Coach.”
Landry said, however, the fact that more than one former player has alleged sexual harassment by Dorrance gives credibility to their claims.
“The more athletes that come forward, the more credibility these claims have,” Landry said. “But sexual harassment, that’s definitely across the line.”
