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Rutgers-Newark faces bias suit from former women’s basketball coach, players

By Russell Steinberg

A picture shows balance scales symbolising justice at the courthouse of Douai in northern France on June 25, 2015. AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images)
A picture shows balance scales symbolising justice at the courthouse of Douai in northern France on June 25, 2015. AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images) /
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A former Rutgers-Newark basketball coach and seven former players have filed a bias suit against the university, Law360.com first reported.

The suit alleges that athletic director Marc Griffin made homophobic and racist comments, both publicly and privately, according to NJ.com. Women’s basketball coach Kevin Morris says that when he tried to complain about the comments, he was threatened and later put on medical leave. He was subsequently fired after the 2013-14 season.

The university told NJ.com that the suit is “without merit and will be defended vigorously and aggressively.”

Rutgers-Newark’s student newspaper, The Observer, reported in October 2014 on a meeting that took place the previous December in which Morris told them that Griffin made multiple inappropriate comments.

"“‘Listen we’re getting our mascot ready,” Morris recalled Griffin saying. “‘It should be ready for September. So we’re still working on it—and don’t worry, it won’t be gay.’”“[Griffin] admitted to both of the statements,” Morris said. “He admitted to the other one where he said: ‘Listen the laundry room’s going to be closed for the Summer, so if you need to get your laundry done, you can take it down the corner to the Chinaman.’ He admitted to that one too. And he said: ‘Well, I didn’t mean like racially. I think there is a Chinese guy that owns a Laundromat in Newark. That’s what I meant. Take it to him.’”"

When Morris left, men’s basketball assistant coach William Zasowski took over, and allegedly made derogatory comments about several players. NJ.com reports that the suit alleges Zasowski called players “mentally retarded,” used a slur to describe the sexual orientation of two players, and made a racially charged comment about several players’ hair.

Though Griffin is still the athletic director, Zasowski is no longer with the program. Ashley Cieplicki replaced him and completed her first season at the helm in 2016-17.

Rutgers-Newark’s basketball programs are in Division III and compete in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

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