IOWA CITY, Iowa — A lawyer for 13 Black former Iowa football players announced Thursday that he has filed a lawsuit alleging his clients suffered racial discrimination under longtime coach Kirk Ferentz.
The plaintiffs, including former star running back Akrum Wadley and career receptions leader Kevonte Martin-Manley, suffered "serious and pervasive discriminatory treatment and harassment," according to a press release from attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons.
They allege they were demeaned with racial slurs, forced to abandon Black hairstyles, fashion and culture to fit the "Iowa Way" promoted by Ferentz, and retaliated against for speaking out, the press release said.
The lawsuit had been expeted but wasn't immediately available to the public in Polk County, where it often takes a day or longer to process court filings.
Solomon-Simmons said the lawsuit names as defendants the school, athletic director Gary Barta, Ferentz, his son and offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, assistant coach Raimond Braithwaite and former assistant coach Chris Doyle.
Iowa agreed to pay Doyle $1.1 million in a resignation agreement in June, after scores of former players said on social media that he had bullied and discriminated against them. Doyle has denied the allegations.
An investigation by an outside law firm later found that the program's rules "perpetuated racial and culture biases and diminished the value of cultural diversity" and allowed coaches to demean players without consequence.
Kirk Ferentz has taken steps to address the concerns and some players recently kneeled during the national anthem for the first time in school history. At the same time, Iowa also has not publicly announced any discipline against Brian Ferentz, who was accused of some inappropriate behavior toward players.
