The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday sealed a major legal win for Louisiana State University, ruling that the school’s decision to terminate former football program director Sharon Lewis was not retaliation, but rather a consequence of a staff overhaul initiated by new head coach Brian Kelly.
The court’s ruling comes as the latest chapter in a closely watched case that alleged deep-seated Title IX violations, sexual harassment cover-ups, and institutional failings. Lewis had claimed she was pushed out in early 2022 after voicing serious concerns about sexual misconduct in the football program. But the three-judge panel remained unmoved, affirming the jury’s original verdict in favor of LSU’s Board of Supervisors.
No Smoking Gun in Lewis’ Retaliation Claims
Lewis, who served as associate athletic director of football recruiting and alumni relations, contended that her dismissal stemmed from her 2013 complaint involving a then-assistant coach who allegedly exposed himself, forcibly kissed another female staffer, and made inappropriate remarks about hiring “prettier” student workers.
Despite the severity of the allegations, the court found that Lewis did not meet the high legal threshold to overturn the jury’s ruling. “She fails to clear this high hurdle,” the panel noted in its decision, explaining that no reasonable jury would have found sufficient evidence that her firing was retaliatory under Title IX or Title VII.
