A former member of Dan Mullen's Florida Gators' football staff is suing the University of Florida more than 18 months after his departure from the school, according to a report in the Tampa Bay Times.
Otis Yelverton, a former Gators' assistant director of player personnel and now the head coach at Contra Costa College (California), is suing Florida's University Athletic Association amidst claims he was discriminated against by the Gators' program “because he is Black,” per the report.
Yelverton and Florida parted ways in late-May 2019, after Yelverton was accused of but did not face charges for allegations of cyberstalking, which could have carried a felony charge. However, the Florida State Attorney's office did not find grounds for charges after what was termed a lengthy investigation.
In Yelverton's suit filed this week in the U.S. District Court's Northern District of Florida, he “alleges four main, broad examples of racial discrimination during his year-and-a-half as the Gators' assistant athletic director of player personnel”: Yelverton alleges he was underpaid compared to white people who previously served in that same role; said he was passed over for possible promotions as a Black man; alleged “hostile” work environment with “overt racism” and claimed his race was the reason for his dismissal from his post at Florida.
“We are in receipt of the complaint and disagree with the assertions made,” Florida Senior Associate Athletics Director Steve McLain said in his statement to the Times. “We will respond accordingly.”
We'll keep you posted if Florida responds.
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