NCAA Faces Volunteer Coach Wage-Fixing Claims in Antitrust Suit

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is facing an antitrust lawsuit with allegations that the nonprofit sports organization engaged in a conspiracy with member schools to avoid paying volunteer coaches.

The NCAA’s bylaw restricts Division 1 schools to a limited number of paid coaches but allows hiring of other designated “volunteer coaches” who aren’t paid, according to a proposed class action filed Tuesday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of California.

“These agreements among Defendant and its member schools, in antitrust terms, make the member schools a buyer-side cartel,” said the three plaintiffs, who coach track and field ...