Judge rejects discrimination claims by former UD coaches

DOVER, Del. (AP) — A federal judge has sided with the University of Delaware in a lawsuit filed by two former volleyball coaches who claimed they were fired based on age and sexual orientation.

The judge ruled Friday that Bonnie Kenny and Cindy Gregory had failed to show that the university’s stated reasons for firing them were pretext for discrimination.

Kenny and Gregory, a lesbian couple in their 50s, were married in 2013.

They were fired in 2016 following three losing seasons and complaints about abusing and mistreating players.

The judge said university officials consistently maintained that athletic director Chrissi Rawak fired the coaches because complaints, player surveys and her own observations led her to conclude that they behaved unprofessionally with athletes.

A trial in the case had been scheduled for later this month.