Iowa athletics department to cover full race bias settlement Maryland adds Josh Gattis, Zac Spavital to football staff QB auditions take center stage in Ohio State spring practice

Iowa City, Iowa. A racial discrimination lawsuit filed against the University of Iowa by former football players will be settled with school funds instead of taxpayer money covering half of the $4.2 million deal, the university’s president said Thursday.

President Barbara Wilson ended the original plan, which included a $2 million withdrawal from the state’s general fund, after listening to public concerns and consulting with the Board of Trustees, she said in a statement.

The university’s athletics department will reimburse the state for $2 million, according to The Des Moines Register.

The state’s Board of Appeals approved the plan to use taxpayer funds for the settlement in a 2-1 vote on Monday. Board member and state auditor Rob Sand voted against the proposal, saying the university’s athletics department had the funds to fully settle.

Then on Wednesday, Iowa lawmakers introduced a bill that would require athletics departments at Regents State universities to reimburse the state for any settlement costs that lawmakers did not budget for.

The lawsuit was filed in November 2020 by 12 former black players, including the star runner. Akram Wadley and host of career receptions Kewonte Martin-Manly. They claimed they were humiliated with racial slurs, forced to give up black hair, fashion and culture to fit in with the “Iowa way” promoted by the coach. Kirk Ferencand retaliated for the statement.

The players initially sought $20 million in damages, as well as the dismissal of the athletic director. Gary BarthaFerenc and his son and offensive coordinator Brian Ferenc.

Sand agreed that Bartha should be fired, noting four discrimination cases totaling nearly $7 million in damages under Bartha’s supervision.

“I can’t imagine a private company that, after four discrimination lawsuits under this man, is still in the driver’s seat,” he said at his press conference on Monday.

Wilson declined to discuss whether Bartha would be fired.

Kirk Ferenc said he was “very disappointed” with the settlement and how it was handled. He said that “the initially named parties disagreed with the settlement decision, fully believing that the case would have been dismissed with prejudice pre-trial.”

He added that the coaches were excluded from the trial and “there is no admission of any wrongdoing.”

Damario Solomon-Simmons, a Tulsa-based civil rights attorney who represented former players, criticized Ferenc for his comments, saying that Black Hawkeyes players will continue to be at risk of harassment “as long as Kirk Ferenc is at the helm.”

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland hired Josh Gattis as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach.

Gattis joins the Terrapins after one season as Miami’s offensive coordinator. He was fired after the team went 5-7. Prior to this, Gattis had been offensive coordinator in Michigan. He received the Broyles Award for the country’s best assistant in 2021.

Maryland announced the hiring on Thursday and also announced the addition Zach Spavital as a safety coach.

Gattis worked with a Maryland coach Michael Loxley when they worked in Alabama in 2018. Gattis joins Kevin Sumlinwho was hired as coordinator of the joint offense in Maryland earlier this offseason.

And Enosthe previous offensive coordinator in Maryland, was hired for the same job in Arkansas.

Spavital has spent the past four seasons as a defensive coordinator at Texas State and has also coached at Texas Tech, Houston, and Oklahoma.

“The addition of Josh and Zach really bolsters our already strong coaching staff,” Locksley said. “Josh and I have a strong relationship and a proven track record of working together on a major crime. We have a lot in common with him, and the transition should be very smooth.

“Zak comes to us with a history of defensive involvement that has been a huge success, especially when it comes to aggression and tackling the ball.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio – two-year starter CJ Stroud going to the NFL in the draft next month, which means the Ohio State coach Ryan Day need to find a new quarterback for 2023.

With no apparent heir to Stroud, the quarterback derby is the overarching storyline of the Buckeyes’ open spring training on Tuesday.

A three-year reserve is participating in the race Kyle McCordwho in the first two seasons played little against the second year Devin Brown.

“I hope that one of them will appear, and we will be able to name the starting one (after spring practice). I really know,” Day said last month. “Given our momentum, it would be great if our program could do that.”

McCord of suburban Philadelphia was sweeping last season, completing 16 of 20 passes for 190 yards and touchdowns. In 2021, he got more playing time, even starting the game and throwing for 319 yards when Stroud sat out in the Akron rout.

Brown, who was coached by former Buckeye quarterback Joe Germain in high school in Utah, has yet to make a collegiate pass.

“Definitely a clean slate.” – Quarterback Coach Corey Dennis said about the competition. “I think the only difference is that the guys know what areas they want to work on, what they want to improve, and they want to move on. But no, absolutely. It’s a clean slate and spring will definitely be fun.”

For depth in position, Day took the pass Tristan Gebbia, who was a backup quarterback for Oregon. Aspiring coach Gebbia is expected to mentor young quarterbacks.

Day has a good track record in such situations. He faced a similar quarterback embarrassment in spring 2021 training.

Day used transfer services from Georgia Justin Fields, who became a standout player and starter in 2019 and 20. When Fields left for the NFL, candidates to replace him, Stroud and Jack Miller, played little, in part because the 2020 season was shortened due to the pandemic.

Stroud received an endorsement in 2021, broke school records and was a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist. As a result, Miller moved.

For all his accomplishments, Stroud couldn’t beat Michigan’s hated rival in two tries, so Day will be looking for someone who can. Despite losing to Michigan, Ohio State maintained a college football playoff entry last season, only to lose to eventual national champion Georgia 42-41 in a wild semi-final.

Regardless of who wins the job this time around, Ohio State will be full of elite offensive talent as usual.

“When you see the cast surrounding them, you can’t be more excited about being a college football quarterback,” Day said.

Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka And Julian Fleming will make up one of the best receiver groups in college football.

Veteran Runners TreVion Henderson And Soup Williams both are returning to split the carries after both were injured last season. tight end Cade StoverStroud’s key receiver also returns.

offensive line coach Justin Fry will start auditioning potential newcomers after losing the first three players from last year’s team. Victor Cutler, transfer from Louisiana-Monroe, will be in the mix right away.

The cornerback was a notable weakness for the Buckeyes last season due in part to injuries. They will hope Denzel Burke can play as he did in 2021, when he showed great promise as a freshman, but other veteran experience is lacking.

“What we need to do now is create competition. We need to open this topic, ”said cornerback coach Tim Walton. “Let the guys go to work, go to play and compete. That’s what it’s all about.”

The Buckeyes will be the first to see a signing from Syracuse for Ja’Had Carter, who could get a starting safety job after leading the Orangemen in losses last season.

The Buckeyes will have 15 practice sessions culminating in their annual spring game on April 15th.