Former IU Indianapolis head men’s basketball coach Paul Corsaro plans to bring a claim against the university for damages related to what he calls his “wrongful termination.” Corsaro notified the university of his intent Wednesday.
IU hired Corsaro to lead the Jaguars on March 25, 2024, following three unsuccessful seasons under former head coach Matt Crenshaw. In Corsaro’s first season at the helm, the Jaguars went 10-22, a four-win improvement from the previous year.
However, a month after the season’s conclusion, university officials received a letter from an attorney on behalf of six former IU Indy players alleging misconduct by Corsaro.
The Office of the Vice President and General Counsel conducted an investigation and issued a final report May 9, 2025. The Indiana Daily Student requested both the letter and the final report, but did not received the records prior to publication.
Corsaro is represented by the law firm Stoll Keenon Ogden. In a tort claim notice sent to university trustees Wednesday, Corsaro claims IU and IU Indianapolis Athletic Director Luke Bosso had insufficient evidence and cause to fire him.
He alleges the decision to terminate his employment was made from fear of a lawsuit from an unnamed Ohio lawyer, and that he was “never told what his conduct was that warranted his for-cause termination.”
The tort claim notice states only two allegations were substantiated by the final report. The substantiated allegations were that “Corsaro cursed during Team practices and that he bumped a single player during a practice.”
The notice points out that Indiana University football head coach Curt Cignetti has visibly cursed without facing any repercussions from the university. Additionally, Corsaro claims that “the use of profanity was explicitly encouraged and endorsed by AD Bosso throughout the 2024-2025 season.” An IU spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of this allegation.
Corsaro claims to have “suffered severe reputational damages, emotional and mental distress damages, and other monetary damages” due to his “wrongful termination” by IU. In the notice, he said he’s been unable to get a head coach position at a “mid-major Division I men’s college basketball program” or comparable professional coaching positions because of the termination.
Corsaro was paid $179,539.26 in 2024 for his role as head coach, according to a public database.
The letter, addressed to the IU Board of Trustees, ends by requesting IU notify Corsaro of the university’s decision to approve or deny “this claim to preserve his legal rights and remedies.”
“The tort claim notice speaks for itself and is the first step in the legal process for Paul,” Stoll Keenon Ogden said in a statement on Corsaro’s behalf. “We look forward to the University’s response to the tort claim notice.”
