Tim Garl, who spent nearly half a century as Indiana University’s head basketball trainer, filed a lawsuit this week against the university’s Board of Trustees and athletic director Scott Dolson, alleging wrongful termination and age discrimination.
A longtime IU staff member takes legal action
The complaint, submitted in March 2025, contends that Garl was dismissed after 44 years of service despite ongoing discussions with incoming head coach Darian DeVries about a potential role on the new staff. Garl asserts that the university replaced him with a younger trainer who lacked his experience and reputation, a move he says violates the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
Former IU coaches Mike Woodson and Tom Izzo, along with a dozen alumni such as James Blackmon, Luke Goode, Calbert Cheaney, Jared Jeffries, Yogi Ferrell, Cody Zeller, Jalen Hood‑Schifino, Trayce Jackson‑Davis and Trey Galloway, have each signed letters endorsing Garl’s professionalism and the impact he had on the program. Their collective voice underscores a rare show of support from figures who have long been associated with the Hoosiers.
In addition to reinstatement, Garl is seeking compensation for attorney fees that he claims the university has refused to cover, even after an August 2025 statement from IU acknowledging that Garl acted within his employment rights. The lawsuit also references a separate case involving former team physician Brad Bomba Sr., in which Garl was briefly named a co‑defendant before the claim was dismissed and later appealed.
The legal dispute highlights a broader tension between long‑standing staff members and a university that appears to be reshaping its basketball operations ahead of a new coaching era. Observers note that the outcome could set a precedent for how age‑related employment issues are handled within collegiate athletics.
The case also brings into focus the university’s obligations under federal law to provide adequate legal representation when employees are terminated under contested circumstances. While the litigation proceeds, the university has yet to comment publicly beyond its earlier denial of any wrongdoing.
As the lawsuit moves forward, the university’s athletic department will need to balance its strategic direction with the expectations of a community that has long revered figures like Garl. Whether the court will side with the veteran trainer or uphold the administration’s personnel decisions remains to be seen.