Updated

A major donor to Belmont University in Nashville wants the Baptist-affiliated school to rehire a coach who resigned shortly after revealing she is gay.

Mike Curb is a prominent Nashville music executive and former Belmont trustee who gave the university $10 million for an event center bearing his name.

Belmont officials deny that former women's soccer coach Lisa Howe was forced to resign, but several team members and Curb said she was.

Curb told The Tennessean newspaper that "Belmont has to decide whether they want to be a national recognized university — particularly with their school of music business — or they want to be a church."

Howe didn't say in a statement if she felt forced out, but she hopes gay issues at the school will now be openly discussed.

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Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com