On Dec. 15, 2025, a new civil lawsuit was filed by six former IU Indianapolis men’s basketball players against the university and its board of trustees which revealed serious allegations of physical and emotional abuse by former head coach Paul Corsaro.
The six players who filed the lawsuit were Briggs McClain, Nathan Dudukovich, Ronald Rutland III, Ebenezer Ogoh, Caleb Hannah and Julian Steinfeld. According to the lawsuit, the harassment, bullying and contractual breaches described occurred primarily inside the IU Indy gymnasium. These six players claimed that they were subject to relentless psychological and physical abuse or harassment that harmed them and their athletic and academic careers.
All allegations happened during practices, games and everyday off-the-court interactions with the players. The physical abuse allegations against Corsaro include choking, shoving and shoulder and chest slamming. Dudukovich was allegedly choked after a missed play and was also punched in the chest.
The players also suffered emotional and psychological trauma, the lawsuit mentioning that players reported severe mental health impacts, including depression, insomnia, nightmares and weight loss, among other symptoms. One player reportedly called a suicide hotline on two seperate occasions due to the stress and anxiety caused by Corsaro’s behavior.
Corsaro also allegedly used derogatory slurs related to race, sexuality and intellect. One player alleged that he was told that he was a “soft pussy” because “real men play through concussions.” Another player alleged he was ridiculed by being called “useless” and a disappointment to his parents. Public humiliation was also allegedly suffered by one of the players who was told by Corsaro in front of the entire IU Indy women’s track team to “grab his balls and squeeze” to make sure they were there before he took his next free throw shot.
There was also an alleged disregard to medical needs, with one player claiming that he did not initially seek medical help because of the abusive environment that Corsaro engineered. However, after eventually seeking help, that player received playing time restrictions. Another player “suffered endless invectives from Corsaro after he sought medical attention for a hamstring injury.”
The complaints assert that Corsaro’s misconduct occurred in front of NCAA officials and that assistant coaches who witnessed the abuse, and were mandated to report it, failed to do so and even deleted practice footage. The lawsuit also claims that IU Indy failed to adequately supervise or put a stop to Corsaro’s behavior, allowing his abuse to go unchecked throughout the entire 2024-25 season.
The players felt forced to leave the team, claiming the university breached a contract with them because by playing for IU Indy, they were promised many benefits “including but not limited to athletic scholarships, room and board, admission into specific academic programs, assistant coaching positions, opportunities for athletic advancement and other benefits.”
Corsaro was fired by IU Indy in May 2025 following an internal investigation, and he denies the allegations, having filed his own tort claim against the university for wrongful termination and defamation in Oct. 2025. The university had previously rejected the players’ settlement requests of more than $2.4 million sent in a letter in June 2025, leading to the formal lawsuit being filed.
Citlali Sanchez is a senior majoring in sports journalism, with a minor in sport marketing. She enjoys going out for boba and watching soccer and anime. She can also be found volunteering at sporting events in town or out at coffee shops.
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