'The arbitrator's decision is nonsensical and seriously impedes the university's ability to manage its athletics program,' the university said in a statement. 'The Arbitrator correctly found that there was no just cause to terminate Kevin Ollie's employment as the head coach of an NCAA basketball team.'īut the school said the ruling stated only that UConn should have waited for the NCAA's decision before firing Ollie and said it strongly disagrees with that decision, saying it did not have 'the luxury of waiting more than a year before terminating Ollie for the misconduct the university was aware he had engaged in.'
'This arbitration clearly established - after 33 days of hearings and the testimony and cross examination of actual witnesses under oath - that Kevin Ollie did not violate the NCAA rules that were used to justify the draconian sanctions imposed on him,' Parenteau and co-counsel William Madsen said in a statement. Parenteau said the arbitrator's ruling shows that decision by the NCAA was 'erroneous and unfounded.' The school said the ruling stated only that UConn should have waited for the NCAA's decision before firing Ollie and said it strongly disagrees with the rulingīy Associated Press and Alex Raskin Sports News Editor For.But it wasn't until September of that year that the NCAA accused Ollie of unethical conduct, saying that he lied about improper phone calls with recruits.Ollie, who led the Huskies to their fourth men's NCAA title in 2014, was fired in March of 2018, with UConn arguing that he was dismissed 'for cause'.Violations included improper recruiting contact and unsanctioned practices, but Ollie was also accused of lying to investigators to avoid any punishment.In 2019, the NCAA placed UConn on probation for two years and Ollie was sanctioned for violations, which allegedly occurred between 20.Attorney Jacques Parenteau called Thursday's ruling from arbitrator Mark Irvings a 'total vindication' for Ollie, who was fired in the spring of 2018.An arbitrator has ruled that UConn improperly fired ex-men's basketball coach Kevin Ollie for alleged NCAA violations in 2018 and must now pay him $11 million.UConn is ordered to pay ex-men's basketball coach Kevin Ollie $11M after 'improperly firing him' in 2018 for 'violating NCAA recruiting rules'