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Breaching Contracts: It's Just Part of the College Coaching Biz

By Rick Karcher, Michael McCann, Geoffrey Rapp, Greg Skidmore, and Howard Wasserman

One week ago, Travis Ford signed a contract extension to remain at UMass for the next seven years and said, "I am excited to know that UMass is committed to building the men's basketball program back to one of the best in the East and that I will have the chance to be at the helm for many years to come." Today, one week later, Ford breached that contract and signed with Oklahoma State. UMass athletic director John McCutcheon's reaction: "It's part of the business we're in. That's just something we have to deal with is professionalism. When you have an individual as talented as coach Ford was, that represents an institution like he did, you'd be naive to think you're not going to have these situations."

I'm confused by McCutcheon's statements. Is he suggesting that it would be "unprofessional" of him if he tried to hold Ford to his contractual obligation? In other words, that it wouldn't be professional for him to say to Ford that they just agreed to a seven year deal and that he expects Ford to be bound by his promise? Why is that? And why is it "naive" to think that you can't keep another school from interfering with an existing contract?

Nothing will change so long as athletic directors continue to take the position that "it's just part of the business we're in".......

Full post as published by Sports Law Blog on April 17, 2008 (boomark / email).