Stanley Ruling Explained: Pay Inequality OK

Women coaches fighting for equal pay in gender equity suits suffered a blow when a federal judge in Los Angeles ruled last week that men’s and women’s basketball programs are not the same.

In dismissing Marianne Stanley’s sex-discrimination suit against USC and Athletic Director Mike Garrett, U.S. District Judge John G. Davies made it clear he believes men’s coaches have more responsibilities than women’s. Davies’ written opinion was filed Tuesday.

“The men’s coach is under considerable pressure to generate revenue for the university by attracting paying spectators and producing a winning team,” Davies wrote. “Revenue generation is an important factor in determining whether responsibilities and working conditions are substantially equal and whether greater compensation is justified.”

The opinion revealed that George Raveling, the Trojan men’s coach who resigned before the start of the 1994-95 season, was pressured by Garrett to draw better to help the school alleviate a $1.5-million deficit in the athletic department.

“It’s nice to know market value determines the worth of a coach,” Garrett said. “It’s a fair way to do it.”

Stanley, who coached at USC for four years and sued the school in August 1993 after contract negotiations had ended earlier that summer, is expected to appeal the decision.