In a shocking and honestly pretty disturbing incident, one of the few female college football coaches in the country has come forward with allegations of assault by one of her players. Madison Lindamood, a graduate assistant coach at Ohio Dominican University, has filed a Title IX sex-discrimination complaint against the school.
The lawsuit describes a harrowing encounter that happened during a university-sanctioned event. Lindamood claims she was physically assaulted by a player.
This case shines a light on the challenges women face in male-dominated sports. It also raises tough questions about how institutions handle these kinds of allegations—if they handle them at all.
The Allegations: A Closer Look
Lindamood’s lawsuit describes the incident from March 6 in unsettling detail. According to her complaint, the player *approached her aggressively, made physical contact with her body, and forcibly ripped her bag from her, physically pulling her, and searched her belongings without her consent*.
She’s provided photos of bruises on her neck as evidence, and at least one person reportedly saw what happened. Despite how serious this all sounds, Lindamood didn’t go to the police.
Her attorney, Sean Sobel, said she was *afraid that pushing it further would cost her her job, and she feared for her safety*. Instead, Lindamood told the school’s head coach, Kelly Cummings, and the Title IX coordinator what happened. The response she got? Not exactly supportive.
Institutional Response: A Failure to Act
The lawsuit says the school told Lindamood to handle the issue internally, with Cummings leading the so-called investigation. Shockingly, Cummings apparently dismissed the whole thing, saying his *personal definition of assault required blood or severe bruising*.
He even suggested the player might have been treating Lindamood like a sister and asked what she could have done differently to avoid it. This kind of attitude seemed to carry over into how the university dealt with Lindamood’s later complaints.
Even though the president’s office promised she wouldn’t face retaliation, Lindamood says she was publicly berated by the coaching staff, cut off from team communications, left out of meetings, and forced to keep working with her alleged assailant. Things got worse after her mother filed a complaint about the retaliation in April. Lindamood ended up completely shut out from the program.
Broader Implications: Gender Discrimination in College Sports
Lindamood’s story isn’t just about one bad incident—it points to a much bigger problem with gender discrimination in college sports. According to NCAA data, she was one of only 35 female coaches in any level of college football in 2025. There are about 7,500 male coaches.
That gap really shows how tough it is for women to break into and actually stay in these roles. Her experience also makes you wonder how effective Title IX protections really are, and whether schools are willing to enforce them.
Seeking Justice: The Lawsuit
Lindamood’s lawsuit asks for compensatory and punitive damages, as well as pay for unpaid overtime and minimum wages. She claims she was paid just about $1.29 per hour for her work—which is way below Ohio’s $11-per-hour minimum wage. That’s not just unfair; it’s almost hard to believe in this day and age.
*I wanted that job*, Lindamood said in a statement. *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 makes it clear: schools need to be held accountable and actually support women in sports. Universities have got to take assault and discrimination reports seriously, protect their staff and students, and follow through with real investigations.
Honestly, we need a cultural shift in sports—one that recognizes the unique challenges female coaches and athletes face. That means more gender diversity in coaching, real mentorship for women, and a willingness to call out the attitudes and behaviors that keep discrimination alive.
Madison Lindamood’s choice to speak up about her experience really highlights what women still face in male-dominated spaces. It’s tough to ignore the message here: there’s a lot of work left to do.
Her case puts a spotlight on the need for real change. Everyone deserves to be treated with basic respect, no matter their gender.
It’ll be interesting to see how Ohio Dominican University responds as the lawsuit moves forward. Is justice actually going to happen?
Lindamood’s fight isn’t just about her—it’s for every woman hoping to work in sports without having to look over her shoulder. If you want the full story, check out the article on the New York Post.
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