The former women’s hockey coach at Quinnipiac University has sued the school for wrongful termination, claiming it failed to adequately investigate his players’ claims against him of verbal and physical abuse.
In February 2015, plaintiff Richard Seeley agreed to a five-year contract extension, paying him an annual salary of $165,000. Then two months later and after the conclusion of a very successful season in which he coached Quinnipiac to its first NCAA tournament appearance, Seeley abruptly resigned,
Quinnipiac Athletic Director Jack McDonald gave no reason for the resignation, instead offering the following statement: “I would like to thank Rick Seeley for his service to Quinnipiac University and everything that he has done to elevate our women’s ice hockey program. We wish Rick and his family the best of luck.”
The day before the announcement, Seeley alleged in his lawsuit that he was confronted with several allegations of abuse. Specifically, he claimed “officials from Quinnipiac confronted (him) with many allegations, including allegations by a student-athlete that (he) had yelled at her and grabbed her by the helmet chin strap.” While Seeley denied any wrongdoing “or that his conduct at the time of the incident in question varied in any significant way from his coaching conduct at any time during his several previous years of employment with Quinnipiac,” he was forced to resign anyway.
Seeley filed his lawsuit in Superior Court in New Haven, suing the university for “breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and negligence, arising out of the defendant’s wrongful termination” from his position as head coach.
