Former Ohio Dominican Football Graduate Assistant Files Title IX Lawsuit Against University
Ohio Dominican University is once again facing controversy stemming from allegations involving a member of its athletic department.
Madison Lindamood, a graduate assistant with Ohio Dominican’s football team during the 2025-26 season, has filed a Title IX sex-discrimination lawsuit against the university in federal court.
Lindamood alleges she was assaulted by a football player during a university-sponsored fundraising event on March 6. The lawsuit, filed July 10, states that the player “approached her aggressively, made physical contact with her body, and forcibly ripped her bag from her person, physically pulling her, and searched her belongings without her consent.”
According to the complaint, Lindamood documented bruising on the back of her neck with photographs. The filing also states the alleged assault was witnessed by another graduate assistant.
A spokesperson for Ohio Dominican told NBC4, “As a matter of policy, we do not comment on pending litigation.”
“It’s gotten ugly really quick,” a source told Arch City Athletics as the ODU Athletic Department navigates this ongoing legal matter.
“I wanted that job,” Lindamood said in a statement to USA Today. “What I did not expect was to be told that what happened to me did not count unless it drew blood. No woman should have to choose between staying silent and losing the career she’s worked so hard to build.”
The complaint also states that Lindamood reported the alleged assault to head football coach Kelly Cummings the same day, but alleges he provided “no meaningful follow-up.”
Three days later, on March 9, Lindamood reported the alleged assault to Title IX coordinator and Dean of Students Amy Thomas. According to the complaint, Thomas directed Cummings to investigate the matter rather than assigning a neutral investigator. The filing alleges Cummings told Lindamood his “personal definition of assault required blood or severe bruising.”
The complaint further alleges that Cummings asked Lindamood what she “could have done differently.”
This isn’t the first time that Ohio Dominican has had issues with a head coach’s alledged conduct. Back in 2018, then-ODU volleyball coach Jenn Fekpe was accused of abuse by members of the volleyball program.
On April 13, Thomas issued a one-paragraph determination stating that the complaint did not meet the standard for Title IX sexual harassment and would instead be referred to the university’s Student Code of Conduct process, according to the filing.
According to the complaint, the player was “purportedly” suspended but continued to attend team practices and other team activities, repeatedly placing Lindamood in contact with her alleged assailant.
The complaint alleges Lindamood later faced retaliation from the university, including being removed from team communications, publicly berated by other members of the coaching staff, excluded from coaches’ meetings and repeatedly forced into close proximity with her alleged assailant.
According to the complaint, after Lindamood’s mother filed a retaliation complaint in April, Cummings left her a voicemail instructing her not to return to work. The filing states she has not been permitted to return since.
Lindamood also alleges coaches and players followed her, photographed her and recorded her around campus, prompting university public safety officers to escort her across campus on multiple occasions.
Lastly, Lindamood alleges she worked significant unpaid overtime. According to the complaint, she received a $5,000 stipend to work 20 hours per week from August 2025 through May 2026. The filing contends Ohio Dominican assigned her responsibilities equivalent to those of a full-time coaching staff member and required her to perform those duties despite her graduate assistant appointment.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as compensation for unpaid overtime and unpaid minimum wages.
Below is a sample of a job posting for a graduate assistant position at Ohio Dominican.
Author’s note: I am a graduate of Ohio Dominican University (2022), served time as a member of the women’s soccer coaching staff (2018-2021) and was a graduate assistant (2020-2022) in the athletic department.