Court Declines Civil Rights Case Against NCAA

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal in a lawsuit that claims the NCAA colluded with a state university to defame a basketball coach.

The coach’s lawsuit seeks to hold the private organization liable for civil rights violations because of its involvement with a state agency, SCOTUSblog reports. The NCAA wanted the Supreme Court to dismiss the case.

The court’s cert denial allows former Buffalo basketball coach Tim Cohane to pursue his lawsuit claiming a lack of due process, the Associated Press reports. Cohane claims the NCAA defamed him and destroyed his career in a report on recruitment violations.