Jacobs: Ollie has hearing with UConn, has week to respond in writing

[Marty Jackson]

Well, really, you get paid what your contract says you get paid.

All that's left now is to work out the particulars.

obviously that is up for interpretation. Otherwise, who needs lawyers

 

[UCDaveD]

Yall some haters just pay the man his money. The man came back and won his alma mater a chip, give him his $10 mill and hopefully in 3 years he can be sitting courtside at the national championship game decked out in UConn gear chearing for his team. He still gave so much to this program yet all yall wanna do is hate.

So to be clear, even if he violated his contract, you want to pay him?

 

[intlzncster]

obviously that is up for interpretation. Otherwise, who needs lawyers

That's what I was implying with the second sentence. Working out the particulars is the messy bit.

But I see how that initially reads looking back on it.

 

[Marty Jackson]

I'd be happy with a negotiation where both sides win. KO brought us a National Championship and no one can take that away from him. Things didn't work out but an amicable deal where both side shake hands works for me. This is a business but KO is also family.

an amicable deal ended when they fired him for cause. now it's going to be fought with lawyers and likely in a public forum.

 

[Marty Jackson]

Show me the clause he broke then we can talk about the buyout otherwise give him an offer and end it.

The original post suggests Ollies was given the facts for his dismissal. Unless he can dispute the claim, it's pretty clear in the contract. If he can make it questionable, he may be able to negotiate a settlement. but what you are asking has been done. that process in in full motion right now.

 

[intlzncster]

Let's just allow this whole KO issue lie until it's over or better yet, forever. All these threads lead to a needless pile-on
The guy won a NC, he played for UConn, was a huge ambassador for the program while trudging through the minor leagues and the pros, served ably as an AC, and lastly, he fizzled out in the end by using terrible judgment in the recruiting area that hurt the program. But the guy is not a felon, child molester or even a mean spirited person.
He received what he sowed - he is no longer doing the one thing he loved the most and for a measurable part - it was his doing
I know KO and I know, to a reasonable extent, how he feels about this process
UConn has a new coach , going in a new direction and hopefully Coach Dan Hurley will succeed. The program needed a shot in the arm and the administration did what it had to do. I respect their decision and as a longtime loyal fan and donor I pray there are fans in the seats and the team is competitive and wins.
KO deserves his hearing and his voice - he will get it and I hope it turns out as well as can be expected for both parties
ONWARD......

This was a good take.

One reason I want it to be over is that I don't want to read or hear about it anymore. Selfish I know.

 

[Confident Carl]

an amicable deal ended when they fired him for cause. now it's going to be fought with lawyers and likely in a public forum.

Deals are made behind closed doors. It would not be in UCONN'S best interest to try and shread KO. Still think KO will get paid a large sum. Both parties will probably agree to terms. Cooler heads will prevail.

 

[Paesano]

an amicable deal ended when they fired him for cause. now it's going to be fought with lawyers and likely in a public forum.

Maybe they fired him for cause because he refused to negotiate an amicable deal.

 

[Javjudah]

I will like to know what Ollie did to be fired for "just cause" I have no issues if the University fired him for the teams lack of success the past few seasons but the "just cause" is something I will like to know more about.

 

[ZenConn]

Here we go again...

We'll find out soon enough.

Im on the side that Benedict tried to wriggle out of the contract using the just cause clause and he might win.

I dont know what it is but if it's from illegal practices, the NCAA cleared both TL and JA before the SMU game so I don't think that's the case unless something new was revealed after the game.

Now back to your original program.

 

[Madmannsucks]

So at this point, Ollie now knows what the allegations are...we do not. Guess that will have something to with what if anything the final number will be.

 

[Stinger92860]

an amicable deal ended when they fired him for cause. now it's going to be fought with lawyers and likely in a public forum.

We don’t really know what happened. We don’t know the amount of the initial offer or counter. It had to be 180 degrees apart to get to this point. Regardless we needed a change.

 

[MadDogRevival]

KO brought us a National Championship and no one can take that away from him.

Well, I'm with you in spirit, but, in actuality, a NC can be taken away. We'll all hold hands and pray that that isn't in the galaxy of possibilities . . .

Regarding the contract . . . .
Aaay.
You're not entitled to what your contract says. You're entitled to what a judge/jury/appeals court says you're entitled to.
I mean, I once heard a lawyer make an argument about what the word "is" means.

 

[Javjudah]

"And make no mistake, former players and others with ties to the program aren’t happy with Ollie’s firing — or at least how it went down."

“It’s scary, the way it was handled,” Burrell said. “I’m in coaching, and I look at it like, ‘Are they gonna do that to try to get out of anyone’s contract?’ They could have done it in a different way if they wanted to go in that direction.”

This is exactly how I feel.

 

[Javjudah]

“It’s shaping up really well,” Gold reported. “It’ll be a great mix of players from all generations. Is there a tear in the fabric? I think folks were very sad to see Coach Ollie treated the way he was. Personally, I was very sad to see it go down in the fashion that it did. But there’s so much we don’t know. The process hasn’t been public, so it’s impossible to know what’s going on behind the scenes.”

 

[jibsey]

Ollie has a legally enforceable contract and unless he violated it in some way like recruiting violations he gets paid and rightfully so. If Benedict doesn’t have the goods he should be embarrassed to try this. We’ll see.

 

[Chief00]

The school is in the driver’s seat, but I hope something can be worked out where everyone can walk away with some dignity intact. That may not be as easy as some would like.

 

[auror]

Granted, I haven't been following the Ollie saga closely, but this is news to me. What did he do?

(I know the university has claimed cause in firing him, but as far as I know there's been no determination that they're justified in that contention.)

Both camps are positive that he either 1) did enough to violate his contract otherwise why would the administration have wasted everyone's time going for just cause or 2) deserves his money because there's no proof he violated anything in his contract and a contract is a solemn oath signed with blood and gentlemen uphold their obligations.

Neither side knows anything other than random Boneyard PM whispers or whatever.

 

[Confident Carl]

Well, I'm with you in spirit, but, in actuality, a NC can be taken away. We'll all hold hands and pray that that isn't in the galaxy of possibilities . . .

Regarding the contract . . . .
Aaay.
You're not entitled to what your contract says. You're entitled to what a judge/jury/appeals court says you're entitled to.
I mean, I once heard a lawyer make an argument about what the word "is" means.

From a Michael McCann's 3/19 SI article, last paragraph:

OLLIE AND UCONN COULD SETTLE THEIR DISPUTE AT ANY TIME—AND PROBABLY WILL AT SOME POINT
Given that this dispute could turn rather ugly and public for all involved, it’s plausible, if not likely, that they will reach a financial settlement. Such a settlement would involve UConn paying Ollie a percentage of money that he would be owed if had been fired without cause. In exchange, Ollie would contractually relinquish any potential legal claims he might have against the school or its officials. In other words, while Ollie’s employment contract doesn’t have a buyout, the parties could essentially negotiate one ex post.

How Kevin Ollie could challenge UConn firing

 

[Huskybass]

So to be clear, even if he violated his contract, you want to pay him?

No room for the facts, just don't be hatin' on the man. Just pay him.

 

[Huskybass]

The school is in the driver’s seat, but I hope something can be worked out where everyone can walk away with some dignity intacted. That may not be as easy as some would like.

I think Chief just made up the word "intacted". Here to witness it. Good livin'.

 

[bmayuc]

I highly, highly doubt Herbst and Benedict would fire him for 'just cause' just because they don't want to pay him. They must know more than we know. A contract is a contract. If they wanted to fire him solely because he stunk, he would've been paid still. Herbst and Benedict know something we don't.

You highly doubt that? Man, get with the program. We are already beyond your willful ignorance and onto moral equivocation.

He got fired cuz he didn't win. Period.
If the violation were anything serious we wouldn't be able to nab Hurley. Period.
Our athletic department is under dire financial pressure. Period.

They have some manufactured or minor leverage and are using it to squeeze Ollie and recover some $$ because the administration handed out a terrible awful ridiculous contract. It seems obvious to everyone but you.

Its gross. Its wrong.

 

[HuskyHawk]

It’s easy for me. I don’t believe that contracts that pay people after they have been fired for cause....and I don’t mean “for cause” under the term if the contract, I mean because they sucked at their jobs, should exist. For anyone. In any profession. I know they do, but people are arguing to pay him based on some sense of justice. My sense of justice says he isn’t working for us any more. He doesn’t have to do the job. So don’t pay him anything. He got paid $6m to do a terrible job the last two years. Nobody should feeel sorry for him.

So I hope he doesn’t get anything.

 

[noeynox]

It’s easy for me. I don’t believe that contracts that pay people after they have been fired for cause....and I don’t mean “for cause” under the term if the contract, I mean because they sucked at their jobs, should exist. For anyone. In any profession. I know they do, but people are arguing to pay him based on some sense of justice. My sense of justice says he isn’t working for us any more. He doesn’t have to do the job. So don’t pay him anything. He got paid $6m to do a terrible job the last two years. Nobody should feeel sorry for him.

So I hope he doesn’t get anything.

Problem with your thinking, if the coach wanted to walk away from his end of the contract to a higher paying one, he isn't exactly "free" to do so. He or the other school has to pay the but out. There is no way to spin this. It was a terrible buy out/contract Benedict gave him. You're basically advocating for coaching free agency every off season.

Personally I'd rather UConn be in the business of paying more money upfront with more manageable buyouts for lack of performance.

 

[YoungFree]

I just don't think it's going to work that way. The program itself will be the same as far as financial inputs go, whether Kevin gets his money or not.

Not from the articles I've been reading and the stuff my Dad has been telling me about the budget woes in CT. It seems like UConn needs to save every penny they can...

 

[ZenConn]

You don't get paid over and over and over and over and over again for what you did.

Unless that's what the contract states. Just ask the Mets and Bobby Bonilla who's slated to make a million and change per year until 2035. They can't fire Bonilla cuz he's retired right?

 

[Paesano]

It’s easy for me. I don’t believe that contracts that pay people after they have been fired for cause....and I don’t mean “for cause” under the term if the contract, I mean because they sucked at their jobs, should exist. For anyone. In any profession. I know they do, but people are arguing to pay him based on some sense of justice. My sense of justice says he isn’t working for us any more. He doesn’t have to do the job. So don’t pay him anything. He got paid $6m to do a terrible job the last two years. Nobody should feeel sorry for him.

So I hope he doesn’t get anything.

I love how some people are roasting Benedict without knowing what he is using for cause. Talk about will full ignorance.

I am of a similar mindset to you. He stopped doing his job, or at least most of it. Ethically, he doesn't deserve the full payout no matter what it says on a piece of paper. If we want to stay legal, let's wait and see what cause is and whether that justifies nullifying the contract. If we want to get moral, let's talk about KO not doing his job. Also, there is reason to believe he bluffed the prior AD into this one sided contract. That is far from ethical. You can say KO played the game but then don't get preachy when the game plays you back.

By no logic, other than pure legality, does KO deserve the full buyout. That same legal foundation, the contract, may result in zero buyout. If KO was offered a compromise and refused to negotiate, he deserves nothing.

 

[CL82]

He is going to get paid. Question is just how much. Would have to think 5-7 mil.

I'd think at the bottom of that range, if not just a bit lower, but only if quick amiable settlement and payout of at least 3 years.

 

[Whtdmd]

Hopes Ollie wins the 10 million. Benedict is a sleazy dude. I just want everyone to know again that Benedict did not have the decency to show up to at UCONN scholar athletes night. This was at the half time of the SMU game and honors all students athletes who had a GPA >3. Susan was there as well as numerous High School principals and families. We value education at UCONN. UCONN is not Auburn

 

[CL82]

Yall some haters just pay the man his money. The man came back and won his alma mater a chip, give him his $10 mill and hopefully in 3 years he can be sitting courtside at the national championship game decked out in UConn gear chearing for his team. He still gave so much to this program yet all yall wanna do is hate.

Hey KO, thanks for stopping by!