Coach Insulting High School Footballers Isn’t Sex Bias

A high school football coach calling players “pussy” and other derogatory terms to insult and motivate them isn’t considered sex-based discrimination in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act, the Sixth Circuit ruled Jan. 7.

Two players from St. Marys Memorial High School Football Team in Ohio sued coach Doug Frye for alleged Title IX violations and for alleged state-law intentional infliction of emotional distress. The district court entered summary judgment in favor of Frye in both cases, leading to dual appeals, and the appeals court affirmed.

While Frye’s conduct was “distasteful” and “offensive to many,” it didn’t ...