by WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Former Wilkes University baseball coach and Major League Baseball veteran Kevin Gryboski has filed a federal lawsuit against the university, claiming he was wrongfully terminated in retaliation for reporting racist remarks made by a player.
In the lawsuit filed Friday, Gryboski—who played for the Atlanta Braves and is a well-known figure in Wyoming and Luzerne counties—alleges the school violated his civil rights when it fired him on May 25, 2023, shortly after he reported that a white player made “offensive racial comments” toward a Black teammate.
Gryboski, who served as head coach of the Wilkes baseball team from 2019 to 2023, says he had built a respected reputation both on and off the field. According to the lawsuit, he was “held in high esteem by his peers, players, staff, and university students” and had an “exemplary reputation” in the greater Wyoming Valley region.
The controversy began on March 13, 2023, when Gryboski emailed Wilkes University general counsel Elizabeth Leo, reporting that several players had told him about the racial incident. He says he made the report in compliance with both university policy and federal law.
Wilkes conducted an investigation and found his report to be “founded,” the lawsuit claims. However, just two months later, Gryboski was dismissed—an act he contends was direct retaliation for speaking out. He alleges the termination was “reckless, outrageous, and performed with an extreme indifference” to his rights.
The suit claims the firing caused humiliation and lasting damage to Gryboski’s personal and professional life. He is seeking back pay, compensatory and punitive damages, legal fees, and court costs.
Gryboski’s legacy at Wilkes is deeply rooted. A graduate of the former Bishop Hoban High School in Wilkes-Barre, he played for Wilkes from 1992 to 1995, setting records for complete games and ranking among the top 10 in several pitching categories. He was inducted into the Wilkes Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.
His coaching tenure also saw notable highs. In his fourth season, the team posted its best record since 2009, earned the school’s 1,000th win, and saw four players named Middle Atlantic Conference all-stars. However, the team’s performance dipped in 2023 with a 17-24 record.
Gryboski was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1994, then again by the Seattle Mariners in 1995. He played in the MLB for parts of five seasons, including with the Braves, Rangers, and Nationals, appearing in 238 games and posting a career 4.07 ERA.
Despite his firing, Wilkes University still hosts his biography on its website, labeling it part of a “historical archive.”
As of now, Wilkes University has not issued a public response to the lawsuit.
