SDSU, ex-swim coach reach $1.45 million settlement

Sign on San Diego.com
Lawsuit had alleged sex discrimination

By Brent Schrotenboer
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
September 26, 2008

Former San Diego State swim coach Deena Deardurff Schmidt has reached a $1.45 million settlement in her Title IX sex discrimination lawsuit against the school.
The settlement includes a $317,420 lump sum and $682,580 in an annuity. The settlement also provides $450,000 in attorneys' fees. Her attorney, Thomas Tosdal, said an undisclosed part of those attorneys' fees also went to Schmidt.
“We are glad that San Diego State came forward and made a fair and reasonable settlement so both sides can put it behind them,” Tosdal said.
Schmidt declined to comment. An Olympic gold medalist in 1972, she filed suit in November 2007, alleging several years of mistreatment at the school, plus “unequal and inadequate” facilities, pay, practice times and administrative support during her tenure from 1994-2007. Schmidt claimed her chances of success as a coach were diminished when SDSU closed its old campus pool in 2000, forcing the team to train off-campus. Her swimming and diving program had finished last in the Mountain West Conference championships during her previous five seasons.
Her suit said she had fought to build a new pool. But after SDSU's new $12 million pool facility opened in March 2007, SDSU Athletic Director Jeff Schemmel told Schmidt in June 2007 that her contract wasn't being renewed. At the time, Schmidt was making $68,000 annually. She also was scheduled to undergo surgery for melanoma and previously had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
“The parties agreed that this settlement recognizes the substantial efforts by Schmidt to implement, develop and improve the women's swimming program at SDSU, and reflects her contributions as a coach,” SDSU said in a statement. “The case was settled at its early stages before any determination of liability was considered or reached.” [To read the entire story, go to: http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/aztecs/20080926-9999-1s26azsuit.html ]