$1.2M Settlement Reached in Frostburg Football Player's Wrongful Death Suit

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The NCAA has reached a landmark settlement, agreeing to pay $1.2 million to resolve a wrongful death complaint filed by the family of a Frostburg State University football player who died back in 2011.

The lawsuit has sparked a national conversation about who is responsible for keeping student athletes safe and, as WJZ's Amy Yensi reports, the settlement could help answer that question.

Derek Sheely, 22, collapsed during practice in August of 2011 and later died.

RELATED: Family of Frostburg Player Who Died Will Settle Suit With NCAA

His family sued the coaches and the NCAA, claiming members of the coaching staff had forced him to return to the field after complaining of a headache. "Stop your (expletive) and moaning and quit acting like a (expletive) and get back out there, Sheely," one coach allegedly said.

The NCAA, the governing body that oversees intercollegiate athletics, sought to have the lawsuit thrown out, claiming it had no legal obligation to protect athletes.

But the settlement reached in the Sheely case marks the first time it has agreed to pay this much to head off a case involving head injury.

RELATED: NCAA Says It's Not Responsible For Athlete's Death

"Going to trial, we would never, ever get the outcome we wanted, which is to have our son back and our family whole again," Derek's mother, Kristen, told WJZ in a phone interview.

Part of the settlement includes the NCAA and Frostburg contributing funding to concussion research, awareness programs and a scholarship. Sheely's jersey number will also be retired.

Kristen Sheely says the Derek Sheely Foundation, which will receive the settlement payout, will help prevent more deaths. "I'm his mom and I have to keep fighting for my son," she said.

The settlement, which follows a $50,000 payout from Frostburg State back in June -- comes nearly five years after Sheely died.