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Former Pitt strength and conditioning coach Tim Beltz suing the university for racial, age discrimination

Post-Gazette

Former Pitt strength and conditioning coach Tim Beltz suing the university for racial, age discrimination

Former University of Pittsburgh strength and conditioning coach Tim Beltz is suing the university for racial and age discrimination, according to documents filed Friday in U.S. District Court.

Mr. Beltz, who is described as a Caucasian man "older than 40" in the suit, was employed by the Pitt athletic department from August 1999 until he was fired on June 30, 2018.

He is seeking reinstatement "into the position he occupied prior to Defendant's discriminatory actions." Also, according to the suit, Mr. Beltz believes the university should be required to compensate him "for the full value of wages he would have received" if not for Pitt's "illegal treatment."

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The suit claims that Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke "repeatedly expressed preferences for younger coaches" and "encouraged [her staff] to hire 'young and hungry go-getters' who were up and coming."

The university declined to comment through a spokesman Friday evening.

According to his old Pitt bio, Mr. Beltz "holds many certifications but has earned his Master’s Strength and Conditioning Coach certification by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association. This is the highest honor that can be achieved as a strength and conditioning coach — representing professionalism, knowledge, experience, expertise, as well as longevity in the field."

Mr. Beltz was the strength coach for the men's basketball team for 17 seasons, according to the suit, before head coach Kevin Stallings was hired to replace Jamie Dixon in March 2016.

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Mr. Stallings "insisted" that the university hire Garry Christopher as the men's basketball strength coach, according to the suit. Mr. Christopher, an African American man, worked with Mr. Stallings for three years prior to their time at Pitt, operating as the Vanderbilt men's basketball strength and conditioning coach from 2013 to 2016.

Mr. Christopher earned his bachelor's degree in health and human performance from Baylor in 2008 before earning his master's degree in kinesiology from San Diego State in 2011. Mr. Christopher was retained by Pitt after Mr. Stallings was fired in March 2018. He is currently in his fourth year with the program, now in his second season with head coach Jeff Capel.

Mr. Beltz was reassigned to the women's basketball team "at or about the same time" Pitt hired Mr. Christopher. 

Women's basketball coach Suzie McConnell-Serio was fired on April 5, 2018, and Ms. Lyke and the university tapped Lance White as her replacement 13 days later.

Mr. White told Mr. Beltz he wanted to retain him as the program's strength and conditioning coach, but had to check with "the administration," according to the suit. On May 2, 2018, the university informed Mr. Beltz that he was to be fired because Mr. White wanted to "go in a different direction," according to the suit.

In May 2018, Pitt hired Rhen Vail, who earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science from Ohio State in 2011, to serve as the women's basketball team's strength and conditioning coach. Mr. Vail earned a master's degree in sport and recreation management from Kent State in 2013, where he worked from 2013 to 2018.

First Published: December 6, 2019, 11:24 p.m.

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