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Fired Texas Tech coach Mike Leach on Friday accused his former
bosses of making "slanderous and libelous" statements intended to
damage his reputation and hurt him financially.
Court documents filed Friday said statements made by
university administrators "were made intentionally" to harm Leach
and expose him to financial harm.
Leach was fired Dec. 30, just days before Texas Tech played
in the Alamo Bowl, after the family of receiver Adam James said he
mistreated the player after he suffered a concussion.
"The mere allegation that a head football coach would
mistreat a student athlete threatens that coach's reputation and
prospects for future employment and exposes him to ridicule and
contempt," Leach's attorney said in the court filing.
Leach has denied he mistreated James. The player said his
coach twice ordered him to stand for hours while confined in a dark
place during practice.
Texas Tech spokeswoman Sally Post said Friday the school does
not comment on pending litigation.
"We're confident that the facts in this matter speak for
themselves," she said.
Leach did not immediately respond to a phone call and text
message Friday.
When asked whether filing documents Thursday and Friday was
intended to keep the case in the public eye, Leach attorney Ted
Liggett said, "I'm not a PR firm; we're a law firm. I'm not trying
to do anything other than getting Mike what he deserves."
The latest filing amends one filed on Dec. 29 with the intent
of allowing Leach to coach in the bowl game. He was fired the next
day.
The university says it fired Leach with cause and contends it
does not have to pay him any of the money remaining in his
contract. Leach's attorneys contend Tech "wrongfully terminated
Leach without cause."
Had Leach been the coach on Dec. 31 he was due an $800,000
bonus.
On Thursday, Leach's attorneys asked a state district judge
to allow them to question administrators and James - a sophomore
and son of former NFL player and ESPN analyst Craig James - in the
next two weeks. The attorneys, who also want documents and
communications from the school pertaining to Leach going back to
Jan. 1, 2006, want to take the case to trial by March 1.
In Friday's filing, Leach's attorneys claim Texas Tech
officials have given "conflicting statements about the basis" for
Leach's dismissal, "casting doubt" on their reasons for firing him.
Two Texas Tech regents released statements on the
university's Web site late Thursday saying Leach had only himself
to blame for being fired.
Vice chairman Jerry Turner and John Scovell, both former Red
Raider football players, wrote that Leach's suspension and
dismissal came from Leach's "profane and defiant refusal" to
recognize and resolve the situation.
He was fired for "poor judgment" in dealing with the
receiver's injury and his "unwillingness" to work with the school,
according to their statement.
