Indiana University Cuts Ties With Longtime Basketball Athletic Trainer Named in Lawsuit

Indiana University's head men's basketball athletic trainer Tim Garl will not be returning for a 45th season with the storied program.

According to Garl's attorney, Christopher Lee of Dinsmore & Shohl, Garl was informed by athletic director Scott Dolson that his contract will not be renewed, Indianapolis NBC affiliate WTHR reported Monday.

"Dolson informed Garl that he would like a 'fresh start' for the IU Basketball Sports Medicine staff," Lee said.

Garl was named in a class action complaint in January, alongside Indiana University Trustees, by five former IU men's basketball players — Butch Carter, Larry Richardson Jr., Haris Mujezinovic, Charlie Miller and John Flowers — who allege they were sexually abused by former team physician Dr. Brad Bomba Sr. during medical examinations.

Related: Fourth Former IU Men's Basketball PlayerJoins Title IX Lawsuit Alleging Abuse by Team Doctor

Garl is being sued for his alleged involvement in what the lawsuit calls Bomba Sr.’s "wrongful conduct." 

"IU and Garl, by contracting Dr. Bomba, Sr. to act as a team physician and by continuing to assign student athletes to receive their required annual physical examinations from Dr. Bomba, Sr., provided their 'stamp of approval' for Dr. Bomba, Sr.’s conduct," the complaint states, as reported by WTHR. "IU and Garl’s implicit and explicit approval of Dr. Bomba, Sr.’s conduct bolstered Plaintiffs’ belief that Dr. Bomba, Sr.’s conduct was normal and medically necessary."

The complaint states that Garl assigned each player to Bomba Sr., or the other doctor, for the player’s annual physical and that IU didn't allow a player to choose which physician they saw for their physical.

In one specific instance, Garl allegedly "laughed at Flowers and his freshman teammates and made jokes at their expense" regarding the rectal examinations they had to go through.

Garl was hired by IU as the head men's basketball trainer in 1981. He started his career in sports medicine as a student athletic trainer from 1975-1978 for Paul "Bear" Bryant at the University of Alabama.

In 1979, the Elkhart native started working with the U.S. Olympic Committee's Sports Medicine program. When he got the job at IU, he continued working at USOC and served 25 years on the program. 

Garl's full statement from Lee, as reported by WTHR:

Long time Athletic Trainer for Men’s Basketball at Indiana University, Tim Garl, was informed by Athletic Director ,Scott Dolson, that his contract will not be renewed for his 45th basketball season. Dolson informed Garl that he would like a “fresh start” for the IU Basketball Sports Medicine  staff.  His last day is Monday.

Garl feels grateful for the incredible opportunities he has had during his career having served every head coach starting with Bob Knight. He finds it a blessing that a kid from Elkhart, IN could be fortunate enough to participate in both collegiate and international competitions. Tim’s enduring legacy includes being at every IU basketball game for 44 seasons.

He would like to especially thank Bob Knight and Ralph Floyd for giving him the opportunity to join the Indiana Family. Also greatly appreciated are all of the head coaches who continued to include him on their staffs through the years. Additionally, Tim would like to thank the players, assistant Coaches, Sports Medicine staff, Doctors, student managers and trainers, support staff and Hoosier Nation for their 4+ decades of support.