Woman Coach's Equal Pay Suit Rejected

Marianne Stanley filed a EEOC-backed sex discrimination lawsuit against the University of Southern California in 1996 after learning that men's basketball coach George Raveling earned at least $54,000 more than she did as coach of the women's team. Stanley now coaches for the University of California-Berkeley's women's basketball team.

In a 2-1 decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that USC was justified in paying Stanley less because she had fewer years of experience as a coach and marketer than did Raveling. Chief Judge Procter Hug stated that the "markedly different levels of experience and qualifications" between Stanley and Raveling were adequate reasons for the difference in their pay.

Dissenting Judge Harry Pregerson argued that the ruling ignored ample evidence of sex discrimination and commented, "The university's half-hearted promotion of the women's basketball program, its intensive marketing of the men's basketball program, and the formidable obstacles Stanley faced as a woman athlete in a male-dominated profession contributed to this disparate treatment."

Stanley's lawyer has stated that he will request a rehearing by the full court.

Media Resources: Nando Times - June 3, 1999

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