Ohio State: Ohio State Must Pay O’Brien $2.2 Million

Ohio State Must Pay O’Brien $2.2 Million: Even though former Ohio State basketball coach Jim O’Brien broke NCAA rules by giving money to a recruit, a judge has ruled that the school must pay O’Brien $2.2 million plus interest because the school failed to follow the terms of his contract. Ohio State fired O’Brien in June 2004. He had asked for at least $3.6 million, but the school said it didn’t owe him any money because he gave $6,000 to a recruit, lied about it and tried to cover it up. The judge said in his ruling that a contract heavily favoring the ex-coach victimized the university. Under the contract — drafted by university lawyers in an attempt to keep O’Brien as the Buckeyes coach — Ohio State needed to follow a strict firing procedure even if O’Brien violated NCAA rules. Ohio State officials said they would appeal the decision. O’Brien coached the Buckeyes for seven years and went to the Final Four in 1999. [8/04/06]