Madison Lindamood, a graduate assistant football coach at Ohio Dominican University, has filed a Title IX lawsuit that has drawn attention across the collegiate sports community.
Allegations of assault and inadequate institutional response
According to the complaint, Lindamood was assaulted by a fellow player during a team-related incident. She reported the assault to head coach Kelly Cummings and the university’s Title IX coordinator, but Cummings allegedly dismissed the claim, stating his “personal definition of assault required blood or severe bruising.”
Following the report, Lindamood says she faced immediate retaliation. Communications with the team were cut off, and she was publicly berated by other coaching staff, creating a hostile work environment that she claims forced her to continue working under duress.
Compounding the alleged mistreatment, Lindamood asserts that she was paid only $1.29 per hour for the extensive duties she performed, a rate far below Ohio’s minimum wage of $11 per hour. The lawsuit seeks compensation for unpaid overtime and unpaid minimum wages, as well as punitive damages.
The university president’s office initially assured Lindamood that individuals who raise such concerns would not experience retaliation, a promise that the plaintiff says was not upheld. The case underscores ongoing debates about athlete safety, workplace equity, and accountability within collegiate athletic programs.
Legal experts note that the lawsuit could set a precedent for how institutions handle Title IX complaints involving student‑athletes and staff, potentially influencing policy revisions across NCAA member schools.