Sex discrimination lawsuit that named Calhoun dismissed by judge

A sex discrimination lawsuit against the University of St. Joseph, naming Hall of Fame men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun, has been dismissed by a federal judge.

Former associate athletic director Jaclyn Piscitelli sued the school in October, alleging she was subjected to a “male-dominated, hostile work environment” that was disdainful toward women.

Piscitelli was fired in June.

“As we always do, we took the allegations of wrong-doing very seriously,” the school said in a statement emailed to Hearst Connecticut Media on Friday. “We are pleased to report the Court has entered judgment in favor of USJ and closed the federal court case. We await the decision by the CT Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities in the coming months and have no further comment at this time.”

Piscitelli cited several alleged incidents, including Calhoun forcing her to clean up single-serve coffee ‘K-cups’ he had dropped and stepped on. Piscitelli also alleged that Calhoun and Associate Head Coach Glen Miller used sexual innuendos when talking to her on different occasions. Piscitelli said no action was taken when she brought her claims to former athletic director Bill Cardarelli.

Piscitelli also alleged that Calhoun referred to another female employee as a “b----h,” and that she felt belittled by other male members in the athletic department.

U.S. District Court judge

Kari A. Dooley ruled Thursday in Bridgeport that Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 affords no private remedy for employment discrimination claims.

“The sole issue presented here is whether Title IX’s implied private right of action encompasses employment discrimination

claims,” Dooley said in her two-page ruling. “As this Court has recently observed, there is currently a split of authority on this issue among several Circuit Courts of Appeal, and no clear guidance from the Supreme Court or the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.”

Calhoun, now 78, came out of retirement in 2017 as St. Joseph was transitioning from an all-female school to

co-ed. St. Joseph went 26-3 and made the NCAA Division III tournament this past season. Calhoun earned his 900th career win in the process.

Reached Friday by phone, Calhoun said he stands by a previously released statement that he never “knowingly treated any woman unfairly because of her gender” and has “never treated any woman inappropriately.”

“I stand by St. Joseph, what my school does, what my program does, what Glen Miller does,” Calhoun told Hearst Connecticut Media. “I stand by what I said before.”

Piscitelli’s attorney, Jacques Parenteau, told the Associated Press Friday that Piscitelli plans to appeal.

Jessica Hill / Associated Press Jim Calhoun during an NCAA basketball game on Jan. 10 in West Hartford. Calhoun had a sex discrimination lawsuit dismissed on Friday.