NCAA Volunteer Coach $303 Million Class Action Settlement — Minimum $5,000 Per Person, File by June 2, 2026
By Steve Levine
Published: March 11, 2026
Claim Deadline: June 2, 2026
Settlement Fund: $303,000,000
Minimum Payment: $5,000 per valid claimant
What Is This Settlement About?
If you ever worked as a "volunteer coach" for an NCAA Division I college sports program, you may be owed at least $5,000 — and potentially much more — from a $303 million settlement.Here is what happened: For decades, the NCAA had a rule (Bylaw 11.7.6) that specifically prohibited Division I colleges and universities from paying any wages, salary, or benefits to coaches in a position the NCAA designated as "volunteer coach." These people did the same work as paid assistant coaches — running practices, recruiting athletes, game planning, traveling with teams — but the NCAA's rules said schools could not compensate them at all. Despite the title, many of these "volunteer" coaches worked full-time hours.
The lawsuit alleged that this rule was an illegal wage-fixing conspiracy that violated federal antitrust law (the Sherman Act). Essentially, the NCAA and its member schools agreed among themselves not to pay an entire category of coaches, which the plaintiffs say suppressed wages and harmed thousands of people who would have been paid if the market were allowed to operate freely. The rule was in effect from 1992 until July 1, 2023, when it was finally eliminated.
The NCAA denies all allegations of wrongdoing. The court has not determined who is right. After extensive litigation — including over 400 subpoenas to Division I schools, depositions of NCAA officers, and a motion for class certification that was granted in March 2025 — the parties reached a settlement through mediation on October 10, 2025. The NCAA agreed to pay $303 million in three equal installments over two years.
Do I Qualify?
You qualify if you worked as a "volunteer coach" (as designated by NCAA Bylaws) for an NCAA Division I sports program in any sport other than baseball at any time between March 17, 2019 and June 30, 2023.This includes volunteer coaches in every D1 sport — basketball, football, soccer, track and field, swimming, volleyball, tennis, wrestling, lacrosse, field hockey, gymnastics, rowing, golf, and all other Division I sports — except baseball.
Baseball is excluded because the volunteer coach bylaw operated differently for that sport, and the class was certified to cover all D1 sports other than baseball.
How Much Money Will I Get?
Every valid claimant will receive a minimum payment of $5,000. Your actual payment amount could be significantly higher depending on the school where you coached, the sport, the year(s) you worked, the wages of the lowest-paid coach on your team, the total number of valid claims filed, and other factors outlined in the Plan of Allocation.The total settlement fund is $303 million. After court-approved attorneys' fees (up to 30% of the fund), litigation expenses (up to $5 million), service awards (up to $25,000 per class representative, totaling up to $125,000), and administration costs are deducted, the remaining "Net Settlement Fund" is divided among all claimants according to the Plan of Allocation.
Payments will be distributed in three installments. The first payment is expected no earlier than August 15, 2026. The second and third payments will follow one and two years after that.
What Do I Need to File?
You must submit a claim form by June 2, 2026. Claims can be filed online at the settlement website or mailed postmarked by that date. You should keep all records and documentation related to your work as a volunteer coach. If there are discrepancies or incomplete data about your employment during the class period, having documentation may be important to validating your claim.After you file, the settlement administrator will send you a "Confirmation of Claim Receipt" acknowledging your submission and informing you of next steps. If your claim is deficient, they will contact you to resolve it.
What Are the Important Dates?
Claim Deadline: June 2, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline: March 21, 2026
Objection Deadline: March 21, 2026
Fairness Hearing: May 11, 2026 at 1:30 PM, Courtroom 5, 14th Floor, Robert T. Matsui U.S. Courthouse, Sacramento, CA
Class Period: March 17, 2019 – June 30, 2023
First Payment Expected: No earlier than August 15, 2026
What Happens If I Do Nothing?
If you do nothing, you will not receive any payment. You will remain in the class and give up your right to sue the NCAA or any of the Released Parties over the same claims. To get paid, you must file a claim by June 2, 2026. There is a guaranteed minimum payment of $5,000 for every valid claimant, so if you qualify, it is worth filing.Case Information
Caption: Ray v. NCAA, Case No. 1:23-cv-00425
Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
Judge: Honorable William B. Shubb
Settlement Fund: $303,000,000 (paid in 3 equal installments)
Minimum Payment: $5,000 per valid claimant
Defendant: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
Class Counsel: Gustafson Gluek PLLC, Kirby McInerney LLP, Fairmark Partners LLP
Settlement Administrator: A.B. Data, Ltd.
Attorney Fees: Up to 30% of the settlement fund
Claim: Antitrust wage-fixing conspiracy (Sherman Act Section 1) — NCAA Bylaw 11.7.6
How Do I Find Class Action Settlements?
Find all the latest class actions you can qualify for by getting notified of new lawsuits as soon as they are open to claims:Official Settlement Notice (PDF)
Settlement Website: NCAAVolunteerCoachLawsuit.com
Submit Claim
Sources
• Official Settlement Site — NCAAVolunteerCoachLawsuit.com• Court-authorized settlement notice dated January 20, 2026
Filing Class Action Settlement Claims
Please note that your claim form will be rejected if you submit a settlement claim with any fraudulent information. By providing this information and your sworn statement of its veracity, you agree to do so under the penalty of perjury. If you are not sure whether you qualify, visit the class action administrator's website. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer advocacy and class action news site, and is not a class action administrator or a law firm.
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Childrens' Video Game Addiction
Deadline: Pending
Submit Claim
DraftKings & FanDuel Addiction Lawsuits
Status: Open
Submit Claim
Kids Playing Roblox - Alleged Abuse
Pre-Qualify Here
Submit Claim
$990K Differin Acne Product Settlement
Deadline: May 19, 2026
Submit Claim
$4.17M RevitaLash Conditioner Settlement
Deadline: April 20, 2026
Submit Claim
$87.5M Beef Prices Settlement
Deadline: June 30, 2026
Submit Claim
Dollar General Bait & Switch Settlement
Deadline: April 13, 2026
Submit Claim
Belkin Power Bank Settlement
Deadline: March 30, 2026
Submit Claim
Cosequin Dog Supplements Settlement
Deadline: July 21, 2026
Submit Claim
Depo Provera Investigation
Deadline: Pending
Pre-Qualify| NCAA Volunteer Coach Settlement Summary | |
| Status | Open — Filing Claims Now |
|---|---|
| Claim Deadline | June 2, 2026 |
| Settlement Fund | $303,000,000 |
| Minimum Payment | $5,000 per valid claimant |
| Who Qualifies | NCAA D1 volunteer coaches (all sports except baseball), March 2019 – June 2023 |
| Fairness Hearing | May 11, 2026 at 1:30 PM (Sacramento, CA) |
| First Payment | No earlier than August 15, 2026 |
| Case | Ray v. NCAA, No. 1:23-cv-00425 (E.D. Cal.) |
| Website | NCAA Volunteer Coach Lawsuit |