Former Ohio State Defensive Coach Joe Lyberger Files Federal Discrimination Lawsuit
Updated (2 articles)
Lawsuit Filed in Southern District Court On Feb 5 2026 former Ohio State defensive quality‑control coach Joe Lyberger lodged a civil‑rights complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, alleging violations of Title VII and Title IX and seeking damages, injunctive relief, front‑pay, record correction, and attorney fees [1].
Termination Followed Administrative Leave Ohio State placed Lyberger on paid administrative leave on Dec 27 2024 and terminated him on Apr 23 2025, adding a bar on rehire and citing a breach of its sexual‑misconduct policy; Lyberger argues the action retaliated against his earlier harassment report [1].
Harassment Claims Predate Discipline Lyberger contends a female coworker began unwanted advances in early 2023 and threatened his career, which he reported; the coworker later accused him of hitting her side and slapping her butt on Aug 4 2024, prompting the university to charge him with sexual harassment, non‑consensual sexual contact, stalking, and retaliation for incidents through Dec 2024 [1].
Allegations of Biased Process The suit asserts the university’s March 20‑21 2025 disciplinary hearing relied on altered or incomplete evidence and applied sex‑based stereotypes presuming guilt because Lyberger is male, rendering the process fundamentally unfair and prompting a request to erase the findings from his record [1].
Timeline
Early 2023 – A female coworker begins harassing former Ohio State defensive quality‑control coach Joe Lyberger with unwanted advances and threatens his career, prompting Lyberger to report the behavior to university officials. [1]
Aug 4, 2024 – Lyberger is accused of hitting the coworker’s side and “slapping her butt,” an incident that becomes a central allegation in Ohio State’s sexual‑misconduct investigation. [1]
Aug – Dec 2024 – Ohio State’s Civil Rights Compliance Office documents additional alleged conduct by Lyberger, including yelling outside the coworker’s office, striking walls, and blowing a kiss, and charges him with sexual harassment, non‑consensual sexual contact, stalking, and retaliation. [1]
Dec 27, 2024 – Ohio State places Lyberger on paid administrative leave while it investigates the accusations. [1]
Mar 20‑21, 2025 – An administrative hearing is held to adjudicate the allegations; Lyberger’s lawsuit later describes the proceeding as “biased and fundamentally unfair” and reliant on altered evidence. [1]
Apr 23, 2025 – Ohio State terminates Lyberger’s employment, bars him from rehire, and cites a violation of its sexual‑misconduct policy. [1]
July 2025 – Christopher Kohberger pleads guilty to the murders of four University of Idaho students and begins serving a life sentence at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. [2]
Jan 2026 – Families of the Idaho murder victims file a civil suit in Skagit County, Washington, alleging that Washington State University ignored 13 formal complaints about Kohberger’s threatening, stalking and predatory behavior and failed to intervene despite internal discussions, including a suggestion to “email her ‘911’” if help is needed. [2]
Feb 5, 2026 – Lyberger files a federal civil‑rights lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, seeking compensatory damages, injunctive relief, reinstatement or front‑pay, removal of disciplinary findings, and attorney’s fees, alleging sex‑based discrimination and retaliation. [1]