The Ohio State University has agreed to pay $100 million to 279 students who allege they were sexually abused by a former athletic team doctor.

The settlement was approved by the university’s board of trustees in a meeting Wednesday night.

The university previously paid out $61 million to 317 people who said they were abused by Dr. Richard Stratuss, who served as team doctor from 1979 until he was fired in 1996. He later died by suicide in 2005.

“The survivors of the Strauss abuse are all Buckeyes, will always be a part of our family and our community, and I firmly believe that,” Ohio State President Ravi Bellamkonda said.  “We continue to be grateful for their courage in coming forward.”

In a joint statement Wednesday, the university and plaintiffs thanked mediators and said they were working to finalize the details of the settlements.

Ohio State already had settled with 317 survivors for more than $61 million, the school had said.

Many former student athletes signed sealed agreements that kept their names a secret. Some former NFL players were among the victims, according to a lawyer in one of the lawsuits.

The settlement comes after more than 30 former Ohio State football players joined the lawsuit and the university suffered several unfavorable rulings ahead of an October trial date.

“A trial would have been ugly. It would have been terrible for the university and it would have done damage to our football program,” State Sen. Bill DeMora told the New York Times said.

“I think the judge’s decisions had a lot to do with it,” said State Senator Bill DeMora, whose district includes Ohio State. “A trial would have been ugly. It would have been terrible for the university and it would have done damage to our football program.”

Years ago, an independent report had concluded that scores of Ohio State personnel knew of complaints about Strauss’ conduct as early as 1979 but failed for years to investigate or take meaningful action.

“It’s ludicrous that it took this long,” DeMora told the Times. “I’m happy the university is done with the stain of this chapter and that there’s some closure for the victims of this horrible abuse.”

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