Former TRU women's basketball coach Goran Nogic. Nogic was fired from Thompson Rivers University last fall after he was accused of bullying, slapping and inappropriately touching a student. Now, he's alleging in court those claims were untrue and that the university failed to properly investigate the claims.
Image Credit: TRU/Andrew Snucins
April 05, 2022 - 11:30 AM
Goran Nogic was fired from Thompson Rivers University last fall after he was accused of bullying, slapping and inappropriately touching a student. Now, he's alleging in court those claims were untrue and that the university failed to properly investigate the claims.
Six weeks into the basketball season, Nogic was called into the first of two meetings with former university vice president Larry Phillips and athletics director Curtis Atkinson, according to court documents filed Friday, April 1.
Phillips and Atkinson relayed anonymous claims from a student that detailed his inappropriate behaviour in the Oct. 11, 2021, meeting. The women's basketball coach was told there could be either a formal or informal investigation into the claims, according to a notice of claim against the university.
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An informal investigation would be more private and it was the route Nogic was told the university would take. However, he was told he could not attend basketball practice the next day and he was to tell the team he was sick.
According to court documents, Nogic then went to Royal Inland Hospital in both physical and mental distress at the news.
One week later, he was fired from his coaching position and Ken Olynyk was named as the interim coach the next day.
Nogic believed the allegations came from a student and former basketball player who he told could not play in the 2021-2022 season because of her failing grades.
Although he allowed her to practice with the team, Nogic and the student agreed if her grades improved by the winter semester, she could compete with the team again.
She later directed "inappropriate behaviour" toward another student at a Sept. 16 practice and was told she would not play in anymore drills that day. Instead of staying to watch, she left the practice and told Nogic she would leave the team that same day, according to court documents.
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The student is one of two named as Jane Doe in the notice of claim.
Nogic believed the allegations against him were retaliation from the student.
On Oct. 13, Nogic had a second meeting with Phillips and Atkinson, along with a person named as Mrs. Jennifer from the university's human resources department.
He was then given two options to go forward. He could resign from his position or opt for the official investigation.
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He was not given the opportunity to bring his own representative along to the meetings, nor would his superiors review documentation or consult with peers that might support Nogic's standing with the team, according to court documents.
On Oct. 18, Nogic's lawyer requested that an independent third party investigate the accusations, but just 42 minutes later, Nogic was sent an email from Phillips stating he was fired, according to court documents.
Nogic began coaching the TRU women's basketball team in 2019 and was signed to a three-year contract.
Through his lawyer, Greg Thomson, he is seeking damages and lost wages for wrongful dismissal, in which he claims the university violated its employment policies.
The incident is separate from an ongoing investigation into TRU leadership, of which former vice president Phillips is included, court documents said.
None of the claims have been proven in court and the defendants have yet to respond.
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