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Former coach sues University of Montana over gender discrimination

Montana Public Radio | By Freddy Monares
Published November 16, 2021 at 6:30 PM MST
University of Montana Main Hall
Freddy Monares
/
Montana Pubic Radio
University of Montana Main Hall

A former head coach of the University of Montana women’s basketball program is suing the school over alleged gender discrimination. It’s the second gender discrimination lawsuit filed against UM in the past year.

Shannon Schweyen claims she was fired from the position based on her gender. Court documents in Missoula federal court allege that UM’s athletic director Kent Haslam evaluated Schweyen more harshly than her male counterparts.

UM spokesperson Dave Kuntz says the university rejects the allegations and will defend itself in the appropriate forum.

Schweyen is asking for a trial to reinstate her as head coach of the university’s women’s basketball program and pay her salary for the time she has missed working.

The university faces a separate gender discrimination lawsuit from a group of current and former female employees. That lawsuit is pending in federal court.

Copyright 2021 Montana Public Radio. To see more, visit Montana Public Radio.

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Regional News YPR NewsUniversity of MontanaDiscriminationKent Haslam Shannon Schweyen
Freddy Monares
Freddy Monares is a reporter and Morning Edition host at Montana Public Radio. He previously worked for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, covered the 2017 Legislature for UM Legislative News Service and interned with the station as a student. He graduated from the University of Montana School of Journalism in 2017.