Oklahoma State University Files Lawsuit Against Former O-Line Coach for Misrepresenting Current Job
ByOklahoma State University (OSU) has filed a lawsuit against their football team's former offensive coordinator for breaching his contract by lying about his new job.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, Joe Wickline had a clause in his contract at OSU as the offensive line coach. If Wickline took a similar job at another Big 12 school, then he would be on the hook for the remainder of his contract that ran through 2016, which OSU believes he did.
However, Wickline would not have to pay OSU back anything if he became an offensive coordinator and a play-caller for any college football team. OSU said they were led to believe that the University of Texas (UT) hired Wickline as the co-offensive coordinator who would call the Longhorns' plays.
"Upon information and belief, Wickline is neither the offensive coordinator, nor does he have play calling duties," reads OSU's lawsuit. "Instead, he is an assistant coach in charge of the offensive line, which is a lateral move from Wickline's position at OSU and one that does not fall within the exception to pay liquidated damages."
Wickline has not commented on the matter, but has never said publicly that he was the Longhorns' offensive play caller. In fact, as the Statesman noted, most media outlets in Austin refer to quarterback coach Shawn Watson as the play caller. He also meets with the media every week to discuss the offense and UT officials have never disputed his responsibilities.
UT head football coach Charlie Strong, hired earlier in the year, said on March 18 that Wickline and Watson would both call plays, only saying that each would "make some calls," ESPN reported. Strong also said Watson will be "the one final voice."
OSU athletic director Mike Holder sent a letter to Wickline about a week later calling his former employee on misrepresenting his current job.
"It has now come to our attention that you do not have 'play-calling duties,'" the letter reads. "Instead, it appears that your head coach has confirmed that Shawn Watson, not you, will be calling the plays. Thus, in reality it appears you unilaterally and voluntarily terminated the contract to make a lateral move and as such a waiver of the liquidated damages clause of the contract is not triggered."
According to the Statesman, OSU has asked that Wickline pay $593,478 in damages.