• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Volunteer D-I Baseball Coaches File Antitrust Suit Against the NCAA

  • In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, volunteer baseball coaches claim the governing body illegally sets their pay at $0.
  • This isn’t the first time the NCAA has faced litigation over its coaching compensation rules.
Ole Miss baseball players lean against dug-out during baseball College World Series in Omaha
Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

The NCAA is facing another antitrust lawsuit — this time over baseball coaching rules and salaries. 

On Tuesday, Division I volunteer baseball coaches filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of California alleging the NCAA illegally limits not only the number of paid baseball coaches a team can hire, but also illegally price fixes a volunteer coach’s salary at zero.

Named plaintiffs for Smart et al. v. NCAA, which is seeking class certification, include Arkansas coach Taylor Smart and UC Davis coach Michael Hacker. 

The NCAA declined to comment.

  • The governing body’s bylaws — which schools agreed upon — allow for three paid D-I baseball coaches, and one unpaid coach.
  • The complaint alleges that volunteer coaches still perform full-time duties for no money, while some assistant coaches make six figures a year — and head coaches make more than a million.
  • As a result, the complaint said, a volunteer coach “performs significant valuable work, and who would be paid for that work in a competitive market, but who cannot be paid for that work.”

The NCAA’s rule “could potentially be seen as an unlawful restraint,” sports attorney Dan Lust told Front Office Sports. 

While the NCAA has volunteer coach rules in multiple sports, Lust believes baseball provides a potentially appealing case for two reasons. A successful class action needs to have a “narrow” group, which is aided by limiting the lawsuit to one sport. And given that baseball coaching salaries are higher than many other sports, the potential damages for limiting compensation are higher.

This isn’t the first time the NCAA has faced litigation over its coaching compensation rules. In the 1990s, a case called Law v. NCAA struck down an NCAA rule that capped certain Division I coaching compensation.

But Lust said a more recent decision, in NCAA v. Alston, likely paved the way for the complaint to be filed now because it ruled that the NCAA is subject to antitrust scrutiny.

The Problems With Lane Kiffin’s NIL ‘Salary Cap’ Idea

At SEC Media Days, the Ole Miss coach had an idea for…
July 19, 2022

The plaintiff firm, Korein Tillery, is well positioned to represent volunteer coaches. Led by attorney Garrett Broshuis, who played both college and minor league baseball, it recently notched a major win: an $185 million settlement for minor league ballplayers in a lawsuit against MLB over low wages. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Blue Jays $280M Payroll Pays Off With a Trip to the World..

Toronto is back in the Fall Classic for the first time in 32 years.

Mariners–Blue Jays Game 7 Drama Likely to Drive MLB Ratings Surge

The Mariners and Blue Jays will square off in Game 7 of the ALCS.

Financial Behemoth Dodgers Win NL Pennant, Eye History

The biggest spenders would be MLB’s first repeat champion in 25 years.
Jason Belzer

College Sports Is ‘Too Big of an Opportunity’

Panelists at the Asset Class summit agreed college sports is the next frontier.

Featured Today

@chef__tezz/Instagram

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
October 18, 2025

How Vanderbilt Went From SEC Doormat to Dark Horse CFP Candidate

After beating LSU, Clark Lea said: “Internally, we expect to win.”
May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) shoots a three point basket over New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
October 18, 2025

NBA Stars Swap Wine With League Friends and Foes

A wine-exchange tradition emerged from the bubble season’s close quarters.
May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Derek Jeter walks the red carpet on Sunday, May 25, 2025, ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
October 16, 2025

The Players’ Tribune Is Still Kicking 11 Years Later

Founder Derek Jeter is still closely involved in the publication.
BYU

BYU Lost Its Star QB This Summer. Now It’s One of the..

The Cougars are thriving with a true freshman at quarterback.
October 19, 2025

Beyond Ohio State, It’s Another Massive Shake-Up in the CFB Top 25

Nine of the top 10 teams changed positions in Week 9.
Indiana
October 20, 2025

Indiana Is the Center of the Sports World—Again

After successful NBA and WNBA seasons, Indiana’s football teams are thriving.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
October 19, 2025

Florida, Colorado State Firings Push CFB Buyouts Past $100M

Nine FBS head coaches have been fired since the season started.
Sep 20, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick walks the sideline during the first quarter against the UCF Knights at the Bounce House Stadium.
October 17, 2025

Belichick’s UNC Saga Now Includes GM Trip to Saudi Arabia

UNC GM Michael Lombardi traveled to Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
Cignetti
October 17, 2025

Curt Cignetti Lands Third Contract in Just 19 Games With Indiana

Cignetti signed a new contract five days after Indiana upset Oregon.
Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Semaj Morgan (0) makes a catch for a first down in the first half against the USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
October 16, 2025

Michigan Board Publicly Opposes Big Ten Investment Proposal

“The Big Ten does not need to be sold to save college sports.”