Former Player Sues Colgate University Over Women’s Lacrosse Coaching Abuse, What’s Happening in This Lawsuit
A former Colgate University women’s lacrosse player filed a lawsuit on December 22, 2025, in New York County Supreme Court alleging the university ignored abusive coaching practices that left her with permanent injuries and led to three players attempting suicide. The lawsuit claims former coach Kathy Taylor overtrained athletes to the point of injury, forced them to play while hurt, and created a hostile environment that caused over 20 players to leave the team. If you played women’s lacrosse at Colgate between 2019 and 2024, this lawsuit could affect your legal rights.
What Is the Colgate Lacrosse Lawsuit About?
The lawsuit was filed by Amelia Cunningham, a 2024 graduate who played goalkeeper for the Raiders. Cunningham alleges Colgate failed to protect her from coach Kathy Taylor’s treatment despite receiving complaints from players, parents, and even a letter from a civil rights law firm.
The complaint describes a pattern where Taylor routinely made players exercise excessively, pressured them to play through severe injuries, discouraged necessary medical care, and harassed players based on perceived sexual orientation. The environment allegedly became so unbearable that Cunningham’s grades plummeted and her mental health deteriorated.
The Core Allegations
During her freshman year, Cunningham suffered a significant wrist injury. Rather than encouraging proper medical evaluation and rest, the coach allegedly told her she would be letting down the entire team if she sought surgery, allowing the injury to worsen.
By the time she finally had surgery after the season ended, the injury had deteriorated beyond full recovery. Cunningham eventually underwent five surgeries for lacrosse-related injuries before age 23.
The physical toll took an emotional one too. Cunningham attempted suicide in fall 2022 as her grades collapsed and her mental health spiraled. She’s not alone—the lawsuit claims three players attempted suicide during Taylor’s five-year tenure.
Who Else Was Affected?
More than 20 players left the Colgate women’s lacrosse team while Taylor coached from 2019 to 2024. The lawsuit paints a picture of a team hemorrhaging talent as players couldn’t endure the environment.
Former player Danielle Van Calcar has publicly discussed similar experiences. She suffered a career-ending foot injury after being pushed to practice despite pain, later requiring multiple surgeries. Her story mirrors Cunningham’s pattern of delayed medical care leading to worse outcomes.
If you played on the Colgate women’s lacrosse team between 2019 and 2024, you may have experienced what the lawsuit describes. This could include being discouraged from seeking medical treatment, being pressured to play while injured, experiencing harassment, or watching teammates struggle under similar conditions.
What Legal Claims Are Being Made?
The lawsuit filed in New York County Supreme Court on December 22, 2025, makes several specific allegations:
Negligence: Colgate failed to properly hire, supervise, and retain Taylor despite warning signs about her coaching methods.
Breach of Contract: The university allegedly violated scholarship obligations by removing Cunningham from the team and revoking her scholarship before she graduated.
Title IX Violations: Federal law prohibits sex-based discrimination and harassment in educational programs. The lawsuit claims Colgate ignored sexual harassment based on perceived sexual orientation.
Civil Rights Violations: The complaint alleges violations of both state and federal civil rights laws related to the hostile environment created by Taylor’s coaching practices.
The lawsuit requests a jury trial, meaning Colgate won’t settle this quietly behind closed doors—unless they choose to before trial begins.
What Did the University Know?
Here’s where things get serious for Colgate. The lawsuit alleges the university received multiple warnings:
Players complained directly about Taylor’s treatment. Parents contacted university officials with concerns about their daughters’ physical and mental health. A civil rights law firm even sent a formal letter outlining the problems.
Despite these red flags, Colgate conducted what the lawsuit calls an “inadequate investigation” in spring and summer 2022. The university cleared Taylor of all wrongdoing and allowed her to continue coaching.
Taylor didn’t leave until May 2024, after a 3-14 season. She announced her resignation by saying she felt it was “time for a change” and praised the team’s “healthy” culture—a statement that seems jarring given what the lawsuit alleges.
What Happened During the Investigation?
When complaints surfaced in 2022, Colgate hired an outside firm to review the allegations. The lawsuit claims this investigation fell short of what was needed.
Players who participated in the investigation described feeling unheard. The process cleared Taylor, and she remained head coach for two more years while players continued to experience the alleged abuse.
This pattern—universities investigating themselves and finding no wrongdoing—appears in coaching misconduct cases across college athletics. The Colgate lawsuit challenges whether that investigation was thorough enough to protect student-athletes.
What Compensation May Be Available?
While Cunningham’s lawsuit doesn’t specify an exact amount, similar employment discrimination and hostile environment cases provide some context:
Medical Expenses: Cunningham has had five surgeries related to lacrosse injuries. If her lawsuit succeeds, she could recover costs for past and future medical treatment.
Lost Earnings: The lawsuit mentions Cunningham’s aspiration to become a surgeon may no longer be possible due to her permanent injuries. Compensation could include the difference between her expected earnings and what she’ll likely make given her injuries.
Emotional Distress: Federal and state employment laws allow recovery for mental anguish. Cunningham’s suicide attempt and documented mental health decline could support significant damages.
Punitive Damages: If the jury finds Colgate acted with “malice” or “reckless indifference,” punitive damages could multiply the compensatory award significantly.
In similar hostile work environment cases, emotional distress awards have reached into the hundreds of thousands or even millions depending on severity. The fact that three players allegedly attempted suicide could influence how a jury views the harm.
Who Is Eligible to Join This Lawsuit?
Right now, only Cunningham is named as a plaintiff. However, given that over 20 players left the team during Taylor’s tenure, the door may be open for others to file similar claims or join as plaintiffs.
You may have a claim if you:
- Played women’s lacrosse at Colgate between 2019-2024
- Were injured and discouraged from seeking proper medical care
- Experienced harassment based on sexual orientation or gender
- Had your scholarship revoked or were pushed off the team
- Suffered mental health consequences from the coaching environment
Each player’s claim would have unique facts, but the pattern of conduct described in Cunningham’s lawsuit suggests systematic problems that affected multiple athletes.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
The short answer: yes, absolutely.
Cunningham is represented by Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight LLC, a New York firm with a track record in employment discrimination cases. They’ve secured major settlements including $250 million for pharmaceutical sales representatives facing gender discrimination and $99 million for workers denied overtime.
If you’re considering legal action, you’ll want counsel experienced in:
- Title IX violations
- Hostile work environment claims
- University liability cases
- Employment discrimination
Most employment attorneys work on contingency for these cases, meaning they don’t get paid unless you win. Initial consultations are typically free.
What Should You Do If You Were Affected?
Document Everything: Write down what happened while it’s fresh in your memory. Include dates, specific incidents, who was present, and how it affected you physically and mentally.
Preserve Evidence: Save text messages, emails, medical records, and any communications with coaches or university officials. Don’t delete anything, even if it seems minor.
Talk to Witnesses: Connect with teammates who experienced similar treatment. Their corroboration strengthens your case.
Get Medical Records: Obtain complete records of any injuries sustained while playing lacrosse, including when you first reported pain and what treatment you received.
Contact an Attorney: Reach out to employment law firms experienced with Title IX and sports-related cases. Time matters—there are deadlines for filing certain claims.
Don’t Talk Publicly: Avoid posting about the case on social media or discussing details publicly until you’ve consulted with legal counsel.
What Happens Next in the Litigation?
Colgate is being represented by Bond, Schoeneck & King, a Syracuse law firm. The university will likely file a response denying the allegations or asserting legal defenses.
Discovery will follow, where both sides exchange documents and take depositions. This phase could reveal internal university communications about complaints against Taylor and what officials knew when.
The case could settle at any point. Universities often prefer settlement to avoid the publicity of a trial, especially when allegations involve student safety.
If it goes to trial, a jury will decide whether Colgate is liable and what damages Cunningham should receive. That process typically takes 2-3 years from filing, though some cases move faster.
How This Compares to Other Coaching Cases
College sports have seen numerous coaching abuse scandals in recent years:
Northwestern University faced a lawsuit from a former women’s lacrosse player involving similar allegations of harassment. Michigan State dealt with lawsuits from the women’s swimming and diving team over coaching misconduct.
What makes the Colgate case notable is the scope: 20+ players leaving the team and three suicide attempts allegedly connected to the coaching environment represents an extreme pattern.
The fact that Colgate conducted an investigation but cleared Taylor—only to have her resign two years later—raises questions about whether universities adequately protect student-athletes even when they’re aware of problems.
What Are the Broader Implications?
This lawsuit isn’t just about one coach or one player. It’s about whether universities meet their obligations to protect student-athletes from abuse.
Title IX requires schools to respond promptly to complaints of sex-based harassment. The Colgate lawsuit alleges the university failed that test by conducting an inadequate investigation and allowing the alleged abuse to continue.
If Cunningham prevails, it could encourage other athletes to speak up about coaching misconduct. It might also pressure universities to take complaints more seriously before problems escalate to the level alleged here.
Understanding Title IX Rights for Student-Athletes
Title IX protects students from sex-based discrimination in any educational program receiving federal funding. This includes:
- Discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity
- Sexual harassment creating a hostile environment
- Retaliation for complaining about discrimination
Universities must have procedures to investigate complaints and take action to stop discrimination. If they fail to act after learning about harassment, they can be held liable.
For student-athletes, this means coaches can’t create hostile environments based on gender or sexual orientation—and universities must investigate credibly when players complain.
Key Timeline of Events
June 2019: Kathy Taylor hired as head coach of Colgate women’s lacrosse
Fall 2020: Amelia Cunningham arrives at Colgate to play goalkeeper
Freshman Year (2020-21): Cunningham suffers wrist injury; alleges Taylor discouraged surgery
Spring/Summer 2022: Colgate conducts investigation into coaching complaints, clears Taylor
Fall 2022: Cunningham attempts suicide as mental health deteriorates
2022: Cunningham suffers hip injury that goes untreated
May 2024: Taylor resigns after 3-14 season, praises team’s “healthy culture”
December 2024: Cunningham graduates from Colgate
December 22, 2025: Lawsuit filed in New York County Supreme Court
What Has the University Said?
As of early January 2026, Colgate has not issued a public statement specifically addressing the lawsuit allegations.
The university’s 2024 announcement of Taylor’s resignation painted a different picture than the lawsuit. They credited her with developing All-Patriot League honorees and academic honors, making no mention of the complaints that allegedly preceded her departure.
That disconnect between the university’s public statements and what the lawsuit alleges could become important as the case proceeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this a class action lawsuit? A: Currently, no. Amelia Cunningham filed individually. However, given that over 20 players left the team during Taylor’s tenure, others could file similar claims or potentially join as plaintiffs.
Q: Can I still file a claim if I played years ago? A: Maybe. Employment discrimination claims have statute of limitations that vary by state and type of claim. If you experienced misconduct between 2019-2024, consult an attorney immediately to determine if you’re still within the filing window.
Q: What if I never reported what happened? A: You may still have a valid claim. What matters is what happened to you and whether the university knew or should have known about the coaching environment.
Q: Will my name become public if I pursue legal action? A: If you file a lawsuit, court documents are generally public. However, attorneys can discuss confidentiality options and whether settlement negotiations might keep details private.
Q: I still play college sports. Can I be punished for coming forward? A: Federal law prohibits retaliation against anyone who reports discrimination. If you face retaliation, that’s a separate legal claim.
Q: How long does this kind of lawsuit take? A: Employment discrimination cases typically take 2-5 years from filing to resolution, depending on whether they settle or go to trial.
Q: What proof do I need? A: While direct evidence helps, patterns of conduct and witness testimony matter too. Medical records documenting injuries, communications with coaches, and other players’ experiences all contribute to building a case.
Q: Can I sue the coach directly, or only the university? A: Cunningham’s lawsuit names Colgate, not Taylor personally. Your attorney can advise whether individual claims against a coach make sense given your specific situation.
Q: What if I signed something when I left the team? A: Some schools ask departing athletes to sign releases. Whether those releases are enforceable depends on what they say and the circumstances. An attorney can review any documents you signed.
Q: How much could this lawsuit be worth? A: Damage awards depend on many factors: severity of injuries, impact on future earnings, emotional harm, and whether the jury finds the university acted with malice. Similar cases have resulted in six-figure to seven-figure awards for individual plaintiffs.
What Happens If You Do Nothing?
If you experienced coaching abuse at Colgate but don’t take action, you lose your chance to hold the university accountable and recover compensation for your injuries.
Legal claims have time limits. Waiting too long means your case gets dismissed regardless of its merits.
Beyond your personal situation, speaking up helps protect future athletes from experiencing what you went through. Lawsuits create public records that force institutions to change harmful practices.
Final Thoughts: Your Rights Matter
College should be a time of growth and achievement, not physical injury and mental health crises. If you played lacrosse at Colgate between 2019 and 2024 and experienced what Cunningham’s lawsuit describes, you have legal rights.
The allegations in this case—five surgeries before age 23, a suicide attempt, teammates driven off the team—describe serious harm that goes beyond tough coaching.
Whether you join Cunningham’s fight or pursue your own claim, the first step is talking to an attorney who can evaluate your specific situation and explain your options.
This lawsuit may be just beginning, but for players who lived through what it describes, the damage has already been done. The legal system now has a chance to provide accountability and compensation.
This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. If you believe you have a legal claim, consult with an attorney licensed in your state.
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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