(Photo by Flickr user U.S. Army RDECOM, used under a Creative Commons license)

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Two former volleyball coaches are suing the University of Delaware, claiming they were fired based on their age, sexual orientation and marital status.

In separate federal complaints filed Thursday, Bonnie Kenny and Cindy Gregory, who were married in 2013, also claim violations of their equal protection and due process rights.

The couple, both in their mid-50s, is suing the school, former HR director Thomas LaPenta, and athletic director Christine Rawak.

Kenny and Gregory were fired in October, but the school did not provide any details.

According to the lawsuits, Kenny and Gregory were suspended after the angry father of a player complained his daughter had been mistreated.

The lawsuits also say UD cited three previous losing seasons and a mid-season losing record last year as nondiscriminatory reasons for the firings.