When Geno Ford made the move from Kent State to Bradley in 2011, he did so amidst controversy. The school sued Ford for the $1.2 million it was owed as part of the agreement, with the dollar amount representing the four years’ (at $300,000 per) salary that remained on the contract Ford and Kent State agreed to, alleging that there had been a breach of contract.
That allegation came as a result of Kent State believing that Ford entered discussions with Bradley despite not being granted permission to do so. Kent State would win that lawsuit, with a court ruling that Ford did have to pay the $1.2 million. And on Wednesday it was reported by the Associated Press that the decision was upheld, meaning that Ford remains on the hook for the $1.2 million.
While buyouts tend to be handled without much fuss when a coach moves from one job to another, this isn’t the first time a school has taken a departing coach to court in order to receive the buyout owed to them. Marist sued Matt Brady in 2009 after he made the move to James Madison in 2008, one year after signing a four-year contract extension with the MAAC school.
Marist alleged “a breach of contract that involved Brady supposedly recruiting former Marist players” according to USA Today. Like Kent State in its suit against Ford, the courts ruled in favor of Marist in 2010.