Canadian hockey coach Miller wins discrimination lawsuit

Shannon Miller may have won a multi-million dollar lawsuit, but the former coach of Canada’s Olympic women’s hockey team isn’t sure her career can be salvaged.

The 54-year-old from Melfort, Sask., was awarded almost $3.75 million after suing the University of Minnesota Duluth for discrimination and retaliation. A federal jury awarded Miller more than $744,000 for lost wages and benefits and $3 million for emotional distress Thursday.

Miller was told Dec. 9, 2014, that her contract as head coach of the UMD women’s hockey team would not be renewed after 16 seasons there.

She filed a lawsuit against the school the following year claiming she lost her job because she of her gender and sexual orientation.

Miller coached the Bulldogs to five national championships. The former Calgary police officer also coached Canada’s women to a world championship in 1997 and Olympic silver medal in ’98.

She said she couldn’t get a coaching job after her dismissal from UMD.

“I feel like they’ve ruined my coaching career,” Miller said Friday from Duluth, Minn.

The jury found UMD discriminated against Miller on the basis of sex and retaliated against her for making Title IX complaints regarding the disparity between men’s and women’s hockey programs.

A judge has yet to decide on lost future wage and benefit damages.