File Photo (Image Credit: Contributed / TRU Wolfpack)

By James Peters

Goran Nogic

Former basketball coach Nogic sues TRU for wrongful dismissal

Apr 5, 2022 | 2:44 PM

KAMLOOPS — Former Thompson Rivers University women’s basketball coach Goran Nogic is suing the school for wrongful dismissal.

Nogic filed the statement of claim to B.C. Supreme Court last Friday (Apr. 1), identifying the school and two unnamed former players as defendants.

Nogic was hired to the position in May, 2019 and was dismissed in October, 2021. At the time, TRU Athletic Director Curtis Atkinson did not comment on the circumstances surrounding Nogic’s dismissal.

In the statement of claim, Nogic says he was pulled into a meeting seven days before his dismissal with Atkinson and former Assistant Vice President of People and Culture Larry Phillips.

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Nogic says the two told him that “he was being accused of slapping a student athlete, inappropriate touching, calling a player fat, bullying, mental abuse and harrassment” of the players.

An informal investigation was launched and, two days later, Nogic says he was told he could either resign or submit to an official investigation.

After another five days, Nogic says he requested a formal investigation. He says Phillips emailed him less than an hour later to inform him he was “terminated without cause.”

Nogic says the accusations are false. In the statement of claim, he accuses the school of not dealing in good faith and the former players of defamation.

None of the allegations, either by or against Nogic, have been tested in court.

The former coach is seeking unspecified damages.