In a lawsuit filed in Benton County Court on October 20, a former coach at Oregon State is suing the school for 4.5 million dollars.[1] The former rowing coach, Gabriel Winkler, named the school and its athletic director, Scott Barnes, in the suit.[2]
Winkler coached the men’s rowing team for a total of 11 years.[3] He asserted a claim for wrongful termination from his position this past August.[4] Other allegations include retaliation, lack of due process, and breach of contract.[5] Winkler claims that Barnes terminated his contract during a restructuring of the athletic department, and alleged “mishandling of inappropriate conduct from a male rower towards two of his female teammates.”[6]
The explanation that Winkler claims to have received for his termination was that he “encouraged a culture of misogyny on his team, allowing females to be sexually harassed by male athletes, encouraging the harassment, and participating in the harassment.”[7] Winkler responded that these claims had never been investigated by the school, and he did not face any discipline.[8] He also counters that these allegations are from 2021, but Oregon State extended his contract in 2024.[9]
Complaints about male rowers were reported to the school’s Equal Opportunity & Access (EOA) office during Winkler’s employment, but no guidance was issued regarding the complaints.[10]
Winkler also claims that Scott Barnes wanted to avoid paying out the remainder of his contract which was through the year 2026.[11] Winkler claims that Scott Barnes sought a pretext to fire him for cause, which would relieve the school of its obligation to pay Winkler through 2026.[12]
[1] Clarke, Ryan, Former Rowing Coach files multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Scott Barnes, Oregon State, Oregon Live (Oct. 27, 2025)
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Id.
[6] Id.
[7] Bagley, Matt, Report: Scott Barnes, Oregon State Sued for Wrongful Termination, SI (Oct. 31, 2025)
[8] Id.
[9] Id.
[10] Id.
[11] Id.
[12] Id.
Leave a Reply