3 Female Ex-Coaches File Discrimination Lawsuit Against UMD

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Three former University of Minnesota Duluth female coaches have filed a discrimination lawsuit against the school.

The plaintiffs include former women's hockey coach Shannon Miller, who led the Bulldogs to five NCAA national championships. UMD cited a budget deficit when it told her last December that it would not renew her contract.

The others include former women's softball coach Jen Banford, who was also director of operations for UMD women's hockey, and former women's basketball coach Annette Wiles.

Miller and Banford allege in the lawsuit filed Monday that the university discharged them because they're female, gay and Canadian. Wiles says she was forced out because of her gender, sexual orientation and age.

UMD Chancellor Lendley Black says the school continues to refute the allegations and will "aggressively" defend itself.