Coach Paul Corsaro claims IU Indianapolis defamed him in statement about his firing

INDIANAPOLIS — Former IU Indianapolis men’s basketball coach Paul Corsaro is exploring legal action against the university that fired him last spring, claiming IU Indianapolis defamed him and effectively ensured he’d never be hired again to coach collegiate basketball due to posting a statement that cast him in “false light.”

According to a tort filed by Corsaro, IU Indianapolis terminated him from his position as head coach of the men’s basketball team after just a single season. Corsaro said the termination came on the heels of an investigation spearheaded by the university after six former players raised allegations of misconduct.

Corsaro said he wasn’t made aware of these allegations until a letter was received by university officials. The university reportedly assigned the Office of the Vice President & General Counsel to look into the merits of the accusations. Throughout the investigation, Corsaro claims Athletic Director Luke Bosso assured his support of Corsaro, allegedly telling Corsaro he’d likely not lose his job at the conclusion of the investigation.

The tort filed by Corsaro claims the final report “did not substantiate the overwhelming majority of allegations… save for two.” These two substantiated allegations were reportedly incidents of Corsaro cursing during team practices and an incident in November when he “bumped a single player during practice.”

“The Final Report provided absolutely no discussion, and certainly made no finding, that the ‘substantiated’ allegations amounted to ’cause’ sufficient to terminate Corsaro for-cause,” said the tort.

When it comes to cursing at practice, Corsaro claims Bosso “explicitly encouraged and endorsed” profanity throughout the 2024-25 season. Corsaro said the “bump of a player” occurred during a drill while instructing players to “properly absorb contact when attempting to score under the basket,” the tort said.

Despite Corsaro arguing these points do not merit for-cause termination, the tort argued that fear of a potential lawsuit led to the university “turning its back on its head coach.” On May 13, Bosso informed Corsaro he was being terminated for cause immediately.

“While Corsaro was not told why he was being terminated for cause, the University decided that the world should know, releasing the following statement to IndyStar,” the tort claims.

In this statement to IndyStar, IU Indianapolis Athletics pointed to the allegations raised by six former players.

“Based on the complaints, the IU Office of Vice President and General Counsel conducted an investigation and concluded that Corsaro’s behavior did not meet the university’s values and standards regarding the treatment of student athletes. Based on these conclusions, IU Indianapolis has dismissed Paul Corsaro. The search for a new coach will begin immediately.”
IU Indianapolis Athletics statement, in part, to IndyStar

In his tort notice, Corsaro calls this statement “plainly false” by asserting, without evidence, that he mistreated his players despite the final report allegedly not supporting that conclusion.

“The Termination Statement was callous, reckless and both defamed Corsaro and cast him in a false light,” the tort said. “By publishing the Termination Statement, the University ensured that Corsaro would not be hired as a collegiate basketball coach again, effectively nullifying what was to be a promising, and indeed prosperous, coaching career.”

IU Indianapolis did not comment on the investigation into Corsaro or the reasons for his firing beyond their previous statement.

Corsaro went 10-22 overall and 6-14 in Horizon League play during his one season at IU Indianapolis.