Texas Tech FIRES Mike Leach: THE PLOT THICKENS!!!

(Photo courtesy of Texas Tech Sports Information Department)

By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2009 TexSport Publications

LUBBOCK, TEXAS (December 30, 2009) Just moments before a court hearing to determine suspended Texas Tech head football coach Mike Leach status to coach at Saturday’s Alamo Bowl, his dismissal and the subsequent filed injunction to be reinstated for the bowl game became a moot point.

It has been reported that Ted Liggett, who is Leach’s attorney, was approached Wednesday morning, by Texas Tech general counsel Pat Campbell outside the courtroom, and told that win, lose or draw in the hearing, Leach was out, effective immediately.

Liggett was quoted that he plans to file a lawsuit on Leach’s behalf against Texas Tech “soon.”

Leach was suspended on Monday for alleged mistreatment of redshirt sophomore receiver Adam James. James is the son of former SMU football player and current ESPN analyst Craig James.

This past February, Leach and the school agreed to a five-year, $12.7 million contract.

According to terms of the contact, Leach was due an $800,000 bonus on December 31 if he were still the head coach at Texas Tech.

An individual with knowledge of the contract said in a phone interview on Wednesday that Leach should still get that payment as he’s technically an employee of the university for 10 more days.

Texas Tech’s firing of Leach was listed as “terminated with cause,” meaning that Leach will not get a guaranteed $400,000 per year for the remaining years as per his contract

Unconfirmed sources had stated that Texas Tech may offer a settlement to Leach, but official word of a settlement had not been issued.

Leach was seen at the team hotel in San Antonio after the firing but gave no comment.