LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky countersued fired men’s basketball coach Billy Gillispie on Thursday, claiming it doesn’t owe him pay because he never signed a contract.
The employment dispute escalated when the university filed a lawsuit in Franklin Circuit Court in Kentucky, one day after Gillispie filed his own claim in Dallas, asking for $6 million in lost salary and undisclosed punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and court costs.
Gillispie, who was fired March 27, was working under a seven-year memorandum of understanding but hadn’t signed a formal contract during the two years he coached the Wildcats.
A call to Gillispie’s attorney, Demetrios Anaipakos, was not immediately returned.
UK’s lawyers are asking the court to rule that the two-page memorandum of understanding Gillispie signed after his hiring in 2007 was not the equivalent of a full contract. Gillispie says it is and that he is entitled to $1.5 million a year for four of the five years left on the deal.
“UK contends that the (memorandum of understanding) is not an enforceable long-term contract of employment, and that it owes no damages to Gillispie, having paid him for each basketball season in which he coached,” the lawsuit says.
Gillispie’s claim accuses the school of fraud and breach of contract, saying it never intended to sign him long-term. However, the school claims the coach turned down at least six versions of a full employment contract, quibbling over the language involving what actions would constitute dismissal without pay.
University attorneys also argue that Kentucky, not Texas, is the proper place for any litigation between the two sides. They also claim that Gillispie’s lawsuit wrongly targets the UK Athletics Association, which the school says is a “nonprofit supporting foundation that was not his employer.”
“The decision to terminate Mr. Gillispie’s employment was a university decision,” UK’s attorney Stephen Barker said in a statement. The athletics association “will vigorously seek the dismissal of the Texas lawsuit. The university is the proper party to any suit.”
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Comments » 29
chrisw2967 writes:
ky looks like they are in a mess themselves.How can Billy get sued when he got fired ? I hope he wins against the university.
Thy_blood_runneth_Orange writes:
What kind of idiot must one be to perform a job....like, say, coaching...without a contract, but a "memorandum of understanding"? Looks to me like Big Blue got one over on Gillespie, no matter if it was underhanded or not.
And, nope, not gonna do it....
Thy_blood_runneth_Orange writes:
See...good thing I didn't make a complete @$$ out of myself like so many of you noobs do.
dvols writes:
they are tryin to steal kiffins thunder!
im just sayin
drone#208075 writes:
Hey there's a new circus in town. Well I guess that would be North of town.
richvol writes:
The blind leading the blind...
MrBamSeydu writes:
Did anyone see that Memphis media dude's interview with Bruce Pearl a few years ago? When Bruce went off on him for saying Memphis is the best basketball program in the state????
Yeah, well, Calipari is gone and even when he was there cheating, we were still beating them. Now that he's gone and Memphis looks to be getting hit hard with sanctions, I want to hear what that reporter has to say now!!!
IT'S GREAT TO BE A TENNESSEE VOL!!!! Bye bye Memphis High!!!
smokyredbone writes:
Boy oh Boy! Those Hillbilly's are chasin their tail now! I'll bet John Wall won't get into school now!He doesn't have a qualifying score on either the SAT or ACT and the Squid won't be able to use his preferred method of "helping" now with the NCAA up his azz! George Plaster said on his show the lady that is UK's compliance officer was against the hire and told UK's brass "too much baggage"!!!Didn't listen and I'll bet the pucker factor is in full force for that igmo AD! Kentucky! Take a look at Memphis and you'll be looking in a mirror!! I hope Billy drains those Blue Misters!!!!
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
yes, glad u didnt do it
and I have to agree over the stupidity of a big $$ guy working without a formalized contract that spells it out for everyones protection. Time to have do that to get the language right was before he committed and at same time give up his present job----after the fact he doesnt have the leverage to make it happen
Thats dumb for sure but they cant jump at it fast enough when the big bucks are flashed even before the details are nailed down
dvhill100 writes:
Let the games begin.
UT37916 writes:
What kind of idiot? . . . how about Lane Kiffin.
UrbanStopCallingMe writes:
Kiffin doesn't have a contract?
Kiffin_fan writes:
In the state of Tennessee.. not sure about Ky... any agreement by two willing people is binding in court whether its signed or not... In other words ... If you want to hire me and I want to work for you, all you have to tell me is come to work, my salary will be ______ Its up to me to prove you wrong and its up to you to prove me wrong... who do you think would win??? No press has ever reported it right ???
golfballs03 writes:
How can they sue him for breach of contract if he never signed one?
Kiffin_fan writes:
Its the south... its a gentlemans agreement...
82cat writes:
Sorry in tennessee a verbal contract is good for as long as both sides agree it is good.
When there is dis agreement then it is off to court you go just as if there wasn't and agreement.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
thats not even the issue
yes they had an agreement he would come and work and get paid and that happened
this issue was what constituted the kind of dismissal where no further money would be due
these guys jump at the money before they have the essentials nailed down and then want to come back and get on the gravy train when they didnt see fit to protect themselfs up front
everybodyyyyyyyyyyy lookin for somethin for nothin-----be smarter next time Billy and that applies to anyone working without a contract----after youve made the comnmittment you have no leverage to force it done your way
Kiffin_fan writes:
I am not defending Billy.... I hate Kentucky as much as you... I hope they have to pay him....
dvhill100 writes:
No bet. You could very well be 100% correct. You have to admit it doesn't present the university in the best light with both sides suing the other and your new coach being linked (correctly or incorrectly) with NCAA violations at his old school.
It will be interesting to see how all this develops.
Kiffin_fan writes:
That should tell you something if the NCAA has to sign off on your hire... Long, Rocky, Ride... wow kinda sounds like Rocky Top don't it???
Sammy_Burklow_IsAMoron writes:
It must make you a little sick at how far UK Basketball has fallen. Yes, you've hired the cheater Coach Cal ... and have some recruits that may or may not qualify ... but you're haven't risen back to the top of anything yet. You've got to play the games first CatScratch, and it's not the same ole SEC that UK dominated so many years ago. I live in Lexington and heard all the Blue Bloods up here drooling over that fool Coach G two years ago when he was hired ...
vol1994 writes:
very ACCURATE, intelligent post my friend.
Cheated at UMASS and now at Memphis...
BigOrangeVol writes:
What's the backstory on why Calamari transferred from a D-I school (UNCW) to a D-II school (Clarion)? Hmmmmmmm.
Interesting that KU gets major NCAA penalties for wrong-doings in 1986, just one year after The Squid bails and goes to Pitt. Coincidence?
Pitt gets in trouble for recruiting violations one year after Califairy leaves to go to UMass. Unusual twist of fate?
Mike Williams and Andre Burks with their little bank fraud scheme, Marcus Camby with more little dirty dealing than anyone can count, Charleton Clarke and the prostitue, agents passing out money like tic-tacs and forfeiture of an NCAA Championship...all under the watchful eye of Coach I'llbuyyouaFerrari. Is it happenstance?
Now the King of Sleaze has left yet another school under a cloud of violations as he scoots out the door unscathed. I see a quarter-century trend here!!! Three of the four (KU, UM and MSU) are among the most corrupt and penalized basketball programs in history! And now he lands in the lap of the Granddaddy Cheaters of them all - the Kenslutty Wildcheats. IT'S DESTINY!!!!!!!!!
John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton, Darnell Dodson and Eric Bledsoe are the second-coming of Chris Mills, LeRon Ellis, Eric Manuel, Sean Sutton, Rex Chapman and Shawn Kemp. The more things change, the more they remain the same!
Look out UK, you're next on the Cal's NCAA Hit List! In the 50's it was Adolph "totally corrupt" Rupp, in the 70's & 80's it Joe B. "Dirtball" Hall and in the late 80's it was Eddie "probation reset button" Sutton.
These two were running towards a predestined match made in NCAA violation Hell for 30 years!
Hey Catsnatch, can you say Death Penalty? I knew you could. Yep UK will quickly be resuming it's rightful place at the top of the NCAA Violations Chart. See ya back in the SEC in about a decade blueballers.
chrisw2967 writes:
before ky can resume its place at he top they have to prove it on the court and I like Pearls chances against calimari.Tiger high had as much talent as what Ky is bringing in this year but they have to win on the court and not based on the recruiting class.
Umass,tiger high and ky is next in line.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Do they have a Fulmer Cup for basketball?
orangegrass writes:
Something that you blue boys have to remember is that you still have to play the game. You all lauded Billy G. as the great savior two years ago and talked SEC championships and final four You all have history just like Calimari. I predict you all are in for trouble in the future. Birds of a feather...
Volgrad777 writes:
I think the point between Cal and Pearl is simply that PEARL HAS OUTCOACHED HIM each and everytime , even in the losses. Thats why we like his chances agaisnt Cal. Cals not a great coach , hes the best recruiter in the game and there is something to be said for that , but otherwise hes gonna hand his kids the ball and call a few inbounds plays. Sometimes the talent is good enough to win , other times , like when you play a well coached Pearl team , its not good enough to win. I live in KY and everyone is excited but you are off your rocker catscratch to say your back on top. Hell , UK fell so far off the map its going to take time to climbg the hill again. UK will be good again , but never dominate in this league. Not anymore. So many things have to work your way to win a National Championship , and Cal has demonstrated his lack of coaching just cant win the big one. If you honestly believe your gonna win one in the next two years , ill take that Chop House bet.
jasonn1970 writes:
The Calimari Cup does have a nice ring to it......
STNVol09 writes:
Hiresanders has the scoop on that question.
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