New BrunswickA judge has ruled in favour of former University of New Brunswick women’s volleyball coach Richard Schick in his wrongful dismissal lawsuit, which stemmed from allegations of aggressive, abusive behaviour toward players.Richard Schick was owed an opportunity to reform his conduct, judge saysAllyson McCormack · CBC News · Posted: Sep 24, 2025 4:59 PM EDT | Last Updated: 32 minutes agoA one-day trial of Richard Schick’s wrongful dismissal lawsuit was held at the Burton courthouse, near Fredericton, in August. (Allyson McCormack/CBC)Former University of New Brunswick volleyball coach Richard Schick should have been disciplined instead of being fired without warning, a judge has found.Schick served as coach of the UNB women’s volleyball team from May 2021 until he was fired in October 2023, six months before his term was set to end.He later filed a notice of action in the Court of King’s Bench in Fredericton, claiming breach of contract and wrongful dismissal.At the one-day trial last month, court heard how six members of the UNB Reds women’s volleyball team filed formal complaints against Schick in May 2023, under the university’s discrimination, sexual harassment and harassment policy, alleging aggressive, abusive behaviour during games and practices. The complaints prompted a third-party investigation that led to Schick’s termination. But in his written decision, Justice Thomas Christie said it was worth noting that of the 30 incidents investigated, nine allegations were considered to be founded.”Of the nine considered as ‘founded,’ most were substantially based on the aggressive use of profanity toward his players and the impact that left on them,” Christie wrote.He said some type of discipline was warranted, but the grounds asserted fell short of justifying summary dismissal.”In my view, while UNB took the steps necessary to properly investigate the complaints and consider the outcome of the investigation, it owed Mr. Schick an opportunity to reform his conduct with the knowledge that he was being disciplined.”Schick served as coach of the UNB women’s volleyball team from May 2021 until he was fired in October 2023. (UBC)Player evaluations conducted at the end of Shick’s first and second season also contained complaints about his coaching. Schick’s lawyer pointed out at trial that Schick and the athletic director reviewed the questionnaires together, but the athletic director expressed no concerns about the negative comments and did not meet with those players to discuss them.Still, the investigation found Schick showed a willingness to address certain issues, Christie said, which are factors that support the application of progressive discipline, which would range from warnings to suspension and ultimately to termination.”He has also acknowledged and apologized for his conduct at certain points during his tenure,” the judge said.Unpaid salary and costs”With UNB not having imposed any progressive discipline when it was warranted in the present circumstances, I find Mr. Schick is entitled to the remaining pay on the balance of the three-year term.”The unpaid salary totals $43,910.05 for the balance of his term. Schick was also awarded $1,741.77 in CPP contributions, $5,269.16 in pension plan contributions, and costs set at $3,500.00 plus HST and disbursements.The total judgment owed to Schick is $50,920.98 plus costs and interest.Christie dismissed claims for moving expenses, and moral damages, noting that “UNB acted reasonably, in most respects, in the manner in which it handled the matter once the complainants came.”In his decision, Christie pointed out that the case was not an examination of Schick’s coaching style but rather the necessity of the parties to live up to the terms of the employment contract.Schick has since moved back to British Columbia and as of August had not found a new job in coaching, court heard earlier. He was not at the trial, but lawyer Jessica Bungay said in an email that her client is “pleased to have this matter behind him and to have the Court find that he was wrongfully terminated from his employment.””While he remains dissatisfied with the way UNB handled this matter, and that he was forced to litigate his termination in order to obtain what he was entitled to, he is hopeful that UNB will learn from this situation and recognize that the way in which it handled things was unlawful.”Mr. Schick was deeply impacted by what occurred and hopes that no other coach or employee at UNB is treated in the same manner he was.”Clarence Bennett, one of the lawyers representing UNB in the case, said the university will not be challenging the decision.”While we respect the Court’s decision and will not be appealing, UNB does not tolerate harassment of any kind and appreciates the courage shown by the athletes to file complaints to allow us to eliminate such behaviour from our Athletics program,” he said in an email on behalf of his client.ABOUT THE AUTHORAllyson McCormack is a producer with CBC New Brunswick, based in Fredericton. She has been with CBC News since 2008.
Fired UNB volleyball coach awarded $50K in wrongful dismissal case
