(Reuters) - Seven former players from the University of Illinois women's basketball team on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit that accuses the school's head coach and a former assistant of creating a racially hostile environment.
The former players are asking for $10 million in damages from the university in the racial discrimination lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Urbana, Illinois, which accuses head coach Matt Bollant and former assistant coach Mike Divilbiss of violating their civil rights.
The lawsuit said the coaches routinely called black players "dogs," "toxic" and "crabs" while racially segregating practices and travel accommodations in the last two basketball seasons.