MSU reached a settlement with a former coach in a discrimination case for almost $200,000. dollars

Michigan State University agreed to pay former strength and conditioning coach $195,000 to settle discrimination lawsuit.

Mike Vorkapich, a white patient with Tourette’s syndrome, sued the university in August for “discriminatory treatment,” according to The Lansing State Journal. He was also the director of sports performance and sports science, according to his university profile.

Vorkapich alleged that athletic director Allan Haller and assistant athletic director Ashton Henderson, both named as defendants in the lawsuit, twice demoted him without cause while colleagues who were younger, able-bodied, female or black received raises and promotions.

The lawsuit was settled in May, according to The Lansing State Journal. However, details of the agreement were only revealed yesterday, in response to a request for public documents State News.

MSU agreed to pay Vorkapich $62,627.26 in restitution for wages he said he lost as a result of his alleged mistreatment, and another $62,627.26 for alleged “psychiatric and emotional “compensation for damage caused by an accident.”

The remaining $69,745.48 went to Vorkapich Legal Counsel.

His lawyer, Scot Henshaw, did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday morning. MSU spokesman Mark Bullion declined to comment on the matter settlement.

Both the university and Vorkapich agreed to settle the case to avoid the “continued costs and burden of litigation,” according to agreement.

Vorkapich resigned June 8, in accordance with the settlement. He had been on paid leave since then. April 26, 2024