Cal Lutheran, Ex-Track Coach Settle Dispute

Don Green, a longtime coach at Cal Lutheran, has settled his age-discrimination complaint against his former employer, saying the bitterness between him and the school is over.

The two parties struck an agreement Thursday at the Ventura office of the state Fair Employment and Housing Department, which served as arbiter in the case. Neither side revealed details of the agreement, with one exception: The school will install a new track and name it in Green’s honor.

Green, 72, had coached track and cross-country and served as an assistant football coach during his 21 years at the Thousand Oaks university. He lodged a complaint in June, 1991, after the school announced his retirement from coaching without his consent. Green had retired as a teacher the year before but remained as the track and cross-country coach.

In filing the complaint, Green said he was not interested in a financial settlement or regaining his position. Instead, he called for the ouster of Athletic Director Bob Doering, whom he blamed for mismanagement of the athletic department. He also claimed the school treated him unfairly.

“I’m relieved about the whole thing,� Green said. “This has been hell and a nightmare for a year and a half. It was a terrible feeling. Now, we’re satisfied.�

Dennis Gillette, the school’s vice president for administration, voiced a similar sentiment, comparing the dispute to a family quarrel.

“A couple of members of the family had a disagreement and misunderstanding, and it took a third party to work it out,� he said. “Don is a long-valued friend and employee of the university. We feel good about it because Don feels good about it.�

In his 21 years, Green coached 44 All-Americans and led Cal Lutheran during a 98-meet winning streak that spanned 15 track seasons. His acrimonious departure from the university last year upset many of his former athletes, who criticized the school for alienating a beloved coach. Green hopes the settlement soothes those wounds.

“It’s hard to be involved in one place for so long and then be completely divorced from it,� he said. “My standing in the Cal Lutheran community has been restored and that’s what I wanted.�