Central Michigan University Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Assault Cover-Up by Baseball Coach
August 24, 2025
MOUNT PLEASANT, MI – Central Michigan University (CMU), along with its athletic director and two baseball coaches, is facing a federal lawsuit filed by former freshman pitcher Dean Brown, who alleges that pitching coach Aaron Hilt assaulted him during a pre-game ritual and that the university retaliated against him for reporting the incident. The lawsuit, filed on August 19, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, claims CMU attempted to cover up the assault, leading to Brown’s suspension from the team and loss of his Division I baseball opportunity.
Details of the Alleged Assault
The incident occurred on March 2, 2025, before a game against Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. According to the complaint (Case No. 1:25-cv-12575), the CMU baseball team was in a “Sunday fun day” mood, with players joking during a pre-game ritual involving fist bumps with pitching coach Aaron Hilt. The lawsuit alleges that Hilt, taking issue with Brown’s participation in the lighthearted atmosphere, singled him out and delivered an unprovoked “hail maker punch” to Brown’s chest, knocking him back in front of teammates. Eyewitnesses described the punch as “out of the blue,” and the force reportedly left a fist-sized bruise on Brown’s chest.
Brown reported the incident to head coach Jake Sabol on March 3, 2025. Sabol, aware of the event, arranged for Hilt to meet with Brown later that day. In a text message sent at 3:27 p.m., Hilt downplayed the incident, calling it a “light punch.” Brown responded, “A light punch doesn’t leave a bruise,” and declined Hilt’s request to see the injury. On March 17, Brown emailed CMU Athletic Director Amy Folan to report the assault without naming Hilt. Two days later, on March 19, Brown pitched his final game for CMU before being benched and excluded from further playing opportunities, according to the lawsuit.
Allegations of Retaliation and Cover-Up
The complaint accuses CMU, Hilt, Sabol, and Folan of orchestrating a cover-up to protect Hilt and retaliating against Brown for speaking out. On April 18, Brown sent a Snapchat message to a teammate referencing the team’s hype-up song, “Welcome to the Jungle,” with the phrase “time to die.” The teammate reported the message to police as a threat, leading to Brown’s suspension from the team. The lawsuit claims this was a pretext to silence him, as another teammate, Trevor Busyn, was also suspended for a TikTok post saying “Free 12,” referring to Hilt’s jersey number.
Brown alleges he was barred from the baseball stadium and removed from team group chats, with his parents also excluded from team communications. On April 23, the NIL Club, a fan-led platform for student-athletes, informed Brown he was no longer on the team, citing a report from a teammate. As of August 13, 2025, CMU had not updated Brown on his team status, forcing him to transfer to Chattahoochee Valley Community College, where he lost a year of NCAA Division I eligibility.
The lawsuit claims assault and battery, negligence, negligent hiring, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violations of Brown’s First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. It seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for emotional distress and lost athletic opportunities.
CMU’s Response and Broader Context
CMU has declined to comment on the pending litigation, with a spokesperson stating, “CMU does not comment on pending litigation.” As of August 20, 2025, Hilt remains employed as pitching coach, and both Sabol and Folan continue in their roles, according to cmuchippewas.com. Brown’s attorney, Todd Flood, aims to bring the case before a jury, arguing that CMU’s actions were an “elaborate coverup” to shield Hilt and avoid accountability.
The case has drawn attention amid other controversies at CMU, including an NCAA investigation into a 2023 incident involving a Michigan football staffer on the CMU sideline during a game against Michigan State, as noted in posts on X. While unrelated, these incidents have fueled criticism of CMU’s athletic department oversight, with one X user stating, “CMU’s athletic program is a mess—first the spying scandal, now this assault cover-up?” Such posts reflect sentiment but are not conclusive evidence.
Implications and Next Steps
The lawsuit highlights broader issues of accountability in college athletics, particularly regarding coach conduct and institutional responses to student-athlete complaints. Similar cases, such as a 2020 lawsuit against a Michigan State University track coach for pressuring a sprinter to transfer after reporting a teammate’s sexual assault, underscore the challenges athletes face when speaking out. Brown’s case could set a precedent for how universities handle allegations of physical misconduct by coaches.
As the litigation progresses, discovery and potential bellwether proceedings will likely scrutinize CMU’s internal communications and handling of Brown’s complaint. The case also raises questions about the employment status of Hilt, Sabol, and Folan, who remain in their positions as of the latest reports. For Brown, now playing at a junior college, the lawsuit represents a fight for justice and a chance to reclaim opportunities lost due to alleged retaliation.
The Mount Pleasant community and college sports fans await further developments, with the case poised to test CMU’s commitment to student-athlete welfare and transparency. As Flood stated to WNEM, “Dean was retaliated against for speaking up, and we’re here to hold CMU accountable.”
Sources: Law.com, WNEM, CBS Detroit, MLive, The Morning Sun, ABC12