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NCAA Reaches $303 Million Settlement With Volunteer Coaches Over Unpaid Work

By  |  November 12, 2025

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has agreed to a $303 million settlement with thousands of former Division I volunteer coaches, marking a significant resolution to longstanding claims that the organization’s compensation rules unlawfully capped their pay at zero. The proposed agreement, filed in federal court, seeks to compensate more than 7,700 coaches who served without pay between 2019 and 2023, according to Bloomberg.

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    Under the terms of the deal, each eligible coach could receive an average of roughly $39,200 before expenses and attorney fees, with no individual payout expected to fall below $5,000. The final amount will vary depending on factors such as the sport, school, and length of service. The settlement remains subject to approval by Judge William B. Shubb of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

    Per Bloomberg, the plaintiffs’ filing described the outcome as “simply put, the Settlement results in” substantial compensation for coaches who had previously been designated as unpaid volunteers. Many are expected to receive six-figure payments, reflecting years of uncompensated work across a wide range of Division I athletic programs.

    Related: NCAA Eligibility Dispute Pushes Courts Into Antitrust Territory

    NCAA President Charlie Baker addressed the development in a memo circulated to members, acknowledging that the case represented “one of the largest remaining lawsuits we face.” According to Bloomberg, Baker wrote that resolving the dispute would “provide certainty and clarity for the association and our members.” He added that the payments would be jointly funded by the Division I membership and the NCAA’s national office, with disbursements unlikely to begin until after next summer.

    If approved, the settlement could reshape the landscape of collegiate athletics by addressing a key labor issue that has persisted for years—one that centers on the tension between amateurism and fair compensation.

    Source: Bloomberg