Coach Says She Was Fired After Complaining About Trans Athlete

Sept. 22, 2025, 10:46 PM UTC

The Board of Trustees of the California State University system is facing a new federal lawsuit from a former associate head coach for the women’s volleyball team at San Jose State University claiming employment discrimination and retaliation.

Melissa Batie-Smoose’s complaint alleges that after she raised concerns about a transgender female student-athlete participating on the women’s volleyball team, she was suspended on November 1, 2024, and then terminated on January 31, 2025. Batie-Smoose claims this was in retaliation for opposing practices she reasonably believed constituted unlawful sex discrimination under Title VII and Title IX.

Batie-Smoose alleges the university subjected her to ...

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