Former Texas Tech coach files lawsuit
Mike Leach, former head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, is suing ESPN and a public relations firm for libel and slander in regards to his treatment of receiver Adam James, the son of ESPN analyst Craig James.
The suit, which was filed in Texas district court, has said that ESPN’s coverage of his firing in 2009 was “wilful and negligent defamation”. He was also angry because there was no retraction of the statements made. Leach claimed that the statements were both
“false and damaging ”, and that Craig James had misinformed ESPN.
Texas Tech fired Leach on 30 December 2009, just two days prior to the Red Raiders Alamo Bowl game against Michigan State.
The story
Adam James had suffered a concussion on 16 December 2009 and team doctors told him not to practice the following day. According to a source inside the James family, Leach had told James to stay in a dark garage near the practice facility during practice.
The allegations, according to The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, were that Leach was given an ultimatum by school officials to apologize or face indefinite suspension.
According to Leach’s attorney, Ted Liggett, James was treated fairly and reasonably according to his concussion diagnosis.
Leach went after a temporary injunction to allow him to coach the Red Raiders in the Alamo Bowl, but Texas Tech fired him on 30 December saying that his act to not apologize to James was defiant and insubordinate.
"Mike Leach is adamant," Liggett said according to espn.go.com. "Mike Leach wants his name cleared. His reputation has taken a severe hit and been tarnished."
Leach’s coaching career
Leach’s regular season record from 2000-2009 was 84-43 while leading the Red Raiders to a bowl game in each year. He accumulated five bowl wins during his nine years with victories in the 2002 Tangerine Bowl, 2003 Houston Bowl, 2004 Holiday Bowl, 2006
Insight Bowl, and 2007 Gator Bowl.
"On a daily basis we're still seeing stories across the country with accounts Leach claims are counter to the truth," Liggett said to espn.go.com. "Mike Leach is looking forward to getting back into coaching -- he's said that on several occasions."
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