NCAA to Pay $303 Million to Volunteer Coaches

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As a result of a class action antitrust lawsuit, the NCAA has agreed to pay 303 Million dollars to volunteer college coaches.[1] In the lawsuit, these volunteer coaches alleged that the NCAA engaged in illegal wage fixing under a rule that prohibited schools from paying them.[2]

The NCAA agreed to cap the number of paid coaches for Division I sports from 1992 to July 2023.[3] Some sports teams were allowed one “volunteer coach” that would not be paid or receive benefits, and the NCAA punished schools who violated this rule.[4] The lawsuit claimed that these actions were wage-fixing and were “unlawful agreements in restraint of trade and commerce” and also referred to the NCAA as a “cartel” in the complaint.[5]

From the settlement, each coach is estimated to receive $39,200 based on the school, sport, and years that they worked.[6] This is a proposed settlement that is awaiting approval by Judge William Shubb in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. [7]

In 2023, Judge Shubb denied a motion to dismiss filed by the NCAA and noted that there were facts sufficient to show a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. [8]

This is the most recent lawsuit against the NCAA alleging antitrust behavior.[9] There have been a series of lawsuits against the NCAA, including the recent $2.8 billion settlement agreeing to compensate athletes for the use of their name, image, and likeness.[10] Earlier this year, the NCAA agreed to pay $49 million to settle a similar lawsuit brought by baseball coaches. [11]

Charlie Baker, the NCAA president sent a memo to members on Monday.[12] He stated that this dispute with the volunteer coaches “is one of the largest remaining lawsuits we face and resolving it provides certainty and clarity for the association and our members.”[13]

[1] Lavigne, Paula, NCAA agrees to $303 million settlement with volunteer coaches, ESPN (Nov. 11, 2025)

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] Id.

[7] Id.

[8] Id.

[9] Id.

[10] Id.

[11] Scarcella, Mike, NCAA agrees to $303 million settlement with unpaid college coaches, Reuters (Nov. 11, 2023)

[12] Lavigne, supra note 1.

[13] Id