Sports

Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach Fired, Court Hearing Canceled

by Yuliya Talmazan | December 30, 2009 at 01:32 pm

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Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach has been fired by the team's administration. Leach was suspended on December 28 by Texas Tech after a mistreatment complaint from Adam James, a sophomore player who was sent to a "shed" following a concussion. Leach's attorney, Ted Liggett, was handed a termination of contract letter "effective immediately" right before the courtroom hearing into Leach's suspension. In recent days, Liggett was trying to prove that the facility to which Adam James was sent after suffering a concussion was not in fact a "shed," but a garage with an ice machine and a fan.

Leach was supposed to receive a $800,000 bonus on December 31, one day after he was fired. There are allegations that Leach was not on terms with team's administration. Leach planned to have a court hearing and challenge the school for getting him suspended, but now that he has been fired, it will be interesting to see what actions Leach will take from here onward.

Leach will be temporarily replaced by Ruffin McNeil who will lead the team into the 2010 Alamo Bowl.

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SirD (not verified)

at 14:31 on December 30th, 2009

Does the fact that this young man (Adam James) is the son of Craig James is the reason why there is so much traction and interest in this story. No offense Mr. James. How many players have encountered such harsh treatment and their story did not make ESPN/National headlines. If Mr Leach is guilty of what he did to Adam - was there a better way to handle the situation in the midst of a Bowl game? This is an unnecessary distraction for the School, the Bowl Sponsors, the Players and the James family.

Aulbert "Butch" West (not verified)

at 11:27 on January 1st, 2010

When I was young, I lived in a Christian Children's Home. There was a room which housed a furnace. Like central heat/air units today. Anyway, he spanked people so hard it left serious marks on their bodies, and usually no legitimate explanation was given.After going to court, the judge told him, if you need to discipline them, make them go stand in a corner or something. What he made me do was stand in that room for at least an hour standing on one leg. That was in the late 60's (1960's) But regardless of whether the player's dad is famous or not or the contract bonus, if Coach leach did this, it was evil then, it is evil now. The College can resolve the timing dispute by paying him anyway. Or at least attempt to resolve it. The timing does seem questionable though and all the other players are supporting him, some probably by intimidation.