Female College Football Coach Sues for Title IX Assault and Discrimination

In a deeply unsettling incident, Madison Lindamood—one of the very few female college football coaches in the U.S.—has come forward with serious allegations of assault by one of her players. Lindamood, a graduate assistant coach at Ohio Dominican University, has filed a Title IX sex-discrimination complaint against the school.

This lawsuit details a harrowing encounter. It also shines a harsh light on the bigger problems of gender discrimination and accountability in college sports.

Her case sticks out as a reminder of the challenges women face in male-dominated fields. It really makes you wonder how universities handle these kinds of allegations—or if they do at all.

The Allegations: A Closer Look

Lindamood’s lawsuit says the incident happened on March 6 during a university-sanctioned event. She claims a player approached her aggressively, made physical contact, yanked her bag away, and searched through her things without permission.

She’s provided photos of bruises on her neck as proof. At least one witness apparently saw it happen.

Even though the situation was serious, Lindamood didn’t go to the police. She worried that reporting it might put her job or safety at risk.

Institutional Response: A Failure to Act

Lindamood reported what happened to head coach Kelly Cummings and the Title IX coordinator. But the support she got was basically nonexistent.

The lawsuit claims the school told her to handle it internally, with Cummings running the so-called investigation. Cummings dismissed the incident, saying his definition of assault required blood or severe bruising.

He even suggested the player might’ve just been treating Lindamood like a sister. Then he questioned what she could’ve done differently to avoid the situation. It’s honestly hard to believe that’s the response she got.

Broader Implications: Gender Discrimination in College Sports

Lindamood’s story isn’t just about one awful incident. It points to a much bigger problem—gender discrimination in college sports.

NCAA data shows Lindamood was one of only 35 female coaches in any level of college football in 2025. That’s compared to about 7,500 male coaches.

The gap is glaring. It’s no wonder women have a tough time breaking into and holding onto roles in male-dominated sports.

Seeking Justice: The Lawsuit

Lindamood’s lawsuit asks for compensatory and punitive damages, plus pay for unpaid overtime and minimum wages. She says she was paid around $1.29 per hour, which is shockingly below Ohio’s $11-per-hour minimum wage.

That’s not just unfair—it’s almost hard to wrap your head around. Lindamood said, *I wanted that job. What I did not expect was to be told that what happened to me did not count unless it drew blood. No woman should have to choose between staying silent and losing the career she’s worked so hard to build.*

What Needs to Change: Institutional Accountability

Lindamood’s case shows that schools need to step up and actually support women in sports. Universities should take assault and discrimination reports seriously, protect their staff and students, and investigate thoroughly.

We need a real cultural shift in sports—one that finally recognizes the unique hurdles female coaches and athletes face. That means:

• Increasing gender diversity in coaching roles
• Providing real mentorship for women
• Calling out attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate discrimination

The Need for Cultural Shift

Madison Lindamood’s choice to speak out about her experience really shines a light on the struggles women face in male-dominated spaces. Her story sends a clear message—there’s still a lot of work ahead.

It’s honestly hard not to wonder how Ohio Dominican University will respond as the lawsuit moves forward. Will justice actually happen here?

Lindamood isn’t just fighting for herself. She’s standing up for every woman who wants to work in sports without always having to look over her shoulder.