The University of Alabama has filed a lawsuit against the school's former assistant coach, Mike Groh, for failing to pay his buyout to leave Crimson Tide for the Chicago Bears last February.
Groh was recruited to coach the Bears' receivers Feb. 2013 after serving as UA's receivers coach and recruiting coordinator for two seasons. Groh's contract required him to pay 20 percent of his salary to Alabama if he quit before his term ended. The contract was valid until Feb. 28 2014.
Nick Saban, Tide head football coach "elected not to waive the liquidated damages" authorized under Groh's contract, meaning Groh was required to pay the set amount to the university before leaving for the Bears.
The contract set a 14-day deadline to pay the liquidated damages. Despite numerous written quests by the University, Groh 'refused and continues to refuse to pay,' AL.com reports.
As a result, the suit filed Thursday in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court seeks $57,000 (20 percent of his $285,000 salary) plus interest and fees from Groh.
In 2009, Groh worked as an offensive graduate assistant at Alabama. He served as an offensive coordinator for his father at his alma mater, Virginia from 2001-08. Groh also served at Louisville and Tuscaloosa for short periods. He was a starting quarterback for the Cavaliers as a collegiate player.
The Alabama Crimson Tide football team participates in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Since the program's inception in 1892, the team has received 15 national championships including 10 wire-service (AP or Coaches) national titles, the most by any current FBS program.
