Dominic Hardie has filed suit against the NCAA in the Southern District of California, San Diego division.  The suit claims that the NCAA’s policy against allowing coaches with felony convictions from coaching in NCAA certified tournaments violates the U.S. Civil Rights Act.  According to the suit, Hardie, an African American, believes the NCAA policy has a discriminatory impact on African Americans because they are overrepresented in the criminal justice system and, thus, the policy violates his civil rights and has a chilling effect on minority coaches. Previously, coaches were allowed to coach in NCAA certified events if the conviction was non-violent and over seven years prior to the tournament. In 2001, Hardie pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute less than a gram of cocaine and he received five years of probation.  As a result, Hardie, a coach of a traveling girl’s basketball team, is barred from coaching at NCAA certified events.  He seeks a preliminary injunction to allow him to coach in an upcoming tournament in San Diego, California.

For any questions, feel free to contact Christian Dennie at cdennie@bgsfirm.com.