Geno Auriemma Named in Lawsuit by Security Officer Claiming Discrimination

Legendary women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma was allegedly rejected after trying to forcibly kiss an employee of USA basketball, and later used his power to have that employee fired.

This is the impetus for an employment discrimination lawsuit filed by former NBA security official Kelley Hardwick. The suit names Auriemma, the NBA and USA Basketball, and was filed in the State Supreme Court in Manhattan. 

Michael Powell of The New York Times reports on Hardwick's account of the events. 

Auriemma, the head coach for women's basketball at the University of Connecticut, has also served as the head coach for Team USA's women’s basketball team. According to Powell's report, Hardwick alleges that Auriemma tried to make an advance on her when he held the latter position in 2009 while at a tournament in Russia.

According to details of the lawsuit and an interview, Hardwick alleges that she and her colleague Rachel Shannon were having drinks after dinner at a Russian hotel. They saw Auriemma and other staff members at the bar, and they took their drinks to the lobby. 

She then alleges that Auriemma walked over to them and threw out some less-than-impressive pickup lines. Hardwick claims that she and Shannon excused themselves and started heading towards their rooms with Auriemma not far behind. He was close enough behind, in fact, that Hardwick said he got on the elevator with them. 

After Hardwick got off the elevator, she alleges that she could feel someone behind her and that Auriemma "puts his hand on my left arm and goes to kiss me."

Needless to say, Hardwick is trying to make the point that she was less than receptive to the advances. Hardwick claimed that she "grabbed his face and mushed him," and told him off Auriemma before leaving the scene. 

Powell reports that Hardwick, a lawyer and former New York City undercover narcotics detective, was willing to let this incident go until it allegedly caused her to lose her job. 

Hardwick claims that on March 22 of this year, she discovered that USA Basketball's chief executive Jim Toole informed the NBA that Auriemma wanted Hardwick removed from her Olympic duties. 

Powell reports that this led to Hardwick giving a list of witnesses to the NBA who knew of the encounter. However, the lawsuit claims that the league did not talk to the witnesses and she later received a call from Toole informing her that he didn't feel the decision to relieve her of these duties had anything to do with Auriemma. 

According to Powell, the league declined comment and calls to USA Basketball were not returned. 

It will be fascinating to see how this all plays out in court—if it ever gets there—and it will not only be fascinating for this particular case, but for the culture of professional basketball.

This suit could end up representing much more than just this case of employment discrimination. Powell reports that Hardwick also mentions the glass ceiling of her job and the feeling that she was not making comparable money to her male counterparts. 

As Powell points out, this is not the first instance of allegations regarding sexism being levied at the professional basketball. As these allegations mount, leagues are going to face increased public scrutiny to make changes, and if any of these allegations have a shred of truth, that is certainly a good thing.