On Monday, the four new analysts with the Texas Longhorns football program had their first day of work, including former North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Larry Fedora.
On Tuesday, former Kansas Jayhawks head coach David Beaty filed a lawsuit against his former employer, alleging that the school attempted to find reasons to avoid paying out the $3 million buyout due to Beaty as a result of his termination without cause last November.
And so, for the first time, public details about the dispute between the two parties emerged, shedding light on previous reporting about why Beaty wasn’t able to join the support staff in Austin.
Still unemployed despite a sterling reputation as a recruiter, Beaty accused Kansas officials like athletic director Jeff Long of attempting to find reasons to void Beaty’s buyout, like “a dead hooker … in [Coach Beaty’s] closet.”
Here’s part of the story, as relayed by SB Nation:
The lawsuit, filed by Beaty’s representatives in federal district court in Kansas, alleges KU first contacted Beaty in December to formally deny previously agreed-upon monthly payments of $500,000 over six months. According to the suit, the school told Beaty the reason for paying his $3 million buyout was “a self-initiated NCAA investigation being conducted — not by the NCAA — but by Kansas Athletics’ corporate counsel looking into impropriety involving a former assistant coach.”
And here’s part of the statement from Kansas:
d here’s part of the statement from Kansas:
Here are the facts. Beaty was informed he would not be retained by KU on November 4, 2018, but would be able to coach the remaining games. Immediately following the end of the season, Kansas Athletics staff conducted standard exit interviews of all football coaches and staff, and through that process we learned of possible NCAA violations allegedly committed by Beaty. KU contacted the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference and began an investigation into the matter. Beaty refused to cooperate with the KU review and, ultimately, the NCAA took the lead in the still-ongoing investigation.
Due to the nature of the allegations, which, if true, would be in violation of the terms of Beaty’s contract, the university has withheld payment of money owed to Beaty pending the outcome of the NCAA investigation. In a show of good faith, the university has placed the full amount owed in escrow.
While disappointed in the court filing, the university is committed to seeking the truth and upholding our high standards of ethical conduct.
So, congrats on the new job, Les Miles. Good luck with all that.
