Madison Lindamood Files Title IX Lawsuit Over Assault

Madison Lindamood, a graduate assistant coach at Ohio Dominican University, has filed a federal Title IX sex‑discrimination complaint after she says a player assaulted her at a university‑sponsored event on March 6. The lawsuit, filed July 10, alleges the player approached her aggressively, made physical contact, and forcibly ripped her bag while searching her belongings without consent. Photographs of bruising on her neck were taken, and another graduate assistant reportedly witnessed the incident.

Details of the Alleged Attack

Lindamood’s complaint describes the assault in stark terms: the player “approached her aggressively, made physical contact with her body, and forcibly ripped her bag from her person.” She documented the injury on her neck with photos, and at least one other graduate assistant saw what happened. The incident occurred at a university‑sponsored gathering, according to the filing.

The head coach, Kelly Cummings, allegedly told Lindamood his “personal definition of assault required blood or severe bruising.” Cummings also suggested the player’s behavior might be as aggressive toward his sister and asked her what she could have done differently. The coach’s comments are cited as minimizing the severity of the attack.

Response from Officials and Retaliation

After reporting the assault, Lindamood says she faced a series of retaliatory actions. She was cut off from team communications, publicly berated by other staff, and excluded from coaching meetings. She also claims she was forced into repeated proximity with her alleged attacker.

In April, Lindamood’s mother filed a complaint about the retaliation. Shortly thereafter, Cummings left a voicemail ordering Lindamood not to return to work. The lawsuit states she has not been permitted back since that message.

The university’s Title IX coordinator later issued a one‑paragraph letter stating Lindamood’s complaint did not meet the threshold for sexual harassment and would be transferred to the Student Code of Conduct process. The letter provided no explanation and identified no right to appeal, the complaint alleges.

Financial and Workplace Grievances

Lindamood’s lawsuit also accuses Ohio Dominican of violating wage laws. She claims she was paid only about $1.29 per hour—far below Ohio’s $11‑per‑hour minimum wage—and worked unpaid overtime. The filing alleges the university created a pretextual narrative that she was habitually tardy, despite her record of arriving before 6 a.m. and never missing a day of work.

The university president’s office initially assured Lindamood that those who raise concerns would not face retaliation. That promise, according to the suit, was broken when the retaliation began.

What the Lawsuit Seeks

The suit requests compensatory and punitive damages, plus compensation for unpaid overtime and unpaid minimum wages. Lindamood’s attorney, Sean Sobel, said his client did not file a police report because she feared for her safety and worried it would cost her the job.

“Reporting it internally cost her the job anyway,” Sobel added. The attorney emphasized that Lindamood’s decision not to involve law enforcement was driven by a legitimate fear of further retaliation and personal risk.

Broader Context: Women in College Football Coaching

The case highlights the extreme gender imbalance in college football coaching. NCAA data for 2025 shows only 35 female assistant coaches across all levels, compared with more than 7,500 male coaches. Lindamood’s statement—“I wanted that job… No woman should have to choose between staying silent and losing the career she’s worked so hard to build”—underscores the pressure many women face in a male‑dominated environment.

Title IX was designed to curb such discrimination, yet the lawsuit suggests the university’s handling of the complaint fell short of the law’s protections. If successful, the case could set a benchmark for how institutions address harassment claims involving female coaches in high‑profile sports.