The Lawsuit Unfolds
Tim Garl, who spent more than four decades as the basketball trainer at Indiana University, filed a lawsuit on March 26, 2025, accusing the university’s board and athletic director Scott Dolson of age discrimination that led to his termination.
In the complaint, Garl says Dolson told him that Indiana sought a ‘fresh start’ for the basketball program, a rationale he interprets as a pretext for pushing out a long‑standing staff member despite his extensive service and positive feedback from players.
The filing notes that, shortly before his dismissal, Garl had been discussing his role with the newly hired head coach Darian DeVries and outlining an offseason training plan, underscoring the timing of the decision.
Indiana University, in its defense, points to performance concerns that originated during the tenure of former head coach Mike Woodson, arguing that the issues predated Dolson’s arrival and justified the move.
Former players such as Calbert Cheaney and Trayce Jackson‑Davis have publicly recalled receiving better medical attention and support under Garl than they experienced in the NBA, adding weight to his claim of professional competence.
The lawsuit is also linked to a separate federal case that earlier this year dismissed allegations of improper sexual conduct by former team physician Brad Bomba, a matter that has lingered in the background of Garl’s legal battles.
Beyond the courtroom, Garl’s legacy is marked by the naming of the training room at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in his honor, a tribute to his four‑plus decades of service and the relationships he built within the program.