DAYTONA BEACH — Alvin Wyatt, who won more football games than any other Bethune-Cookman University coach, was awarded nearly $771,000 because the university breached his contract after it fired him in 2009, a judge ruled Wednesday.
The university fired Wyatt, now 65, two days after the Florida Classic, when the Wildcats suffered a 42-6 defeat to their archrival, Florida A&M. He was replaced by Brian Jenkins, then 39.
B-CU paid Wyatt his $95,000 salary until June 30, 2010, but his contract called for payments to continue another four years, Circuit Judge Terence R. Perkins ruled.
Wyatt had sued for $1.2 million. But the judge wrote that age discrimination, as alleged by Wyatt, was not proven, saying the coach provided “not a shred of evidence” of a discriminatory motive on the part of former President Trudie Kibbe Reed.
Pete Heebner, one of two Daytona Beach attorneys who represented Wyatt, said the coach was “vindicated” by the ruling.
“Obviously we were quite pleased with the result. Portions of the award were reduced by the court, and that's OK. It's up to the court,” Heebner said. “We were disappointed the age discrimination claim didn't have traction with the judge. Those are very difficult cases to win, as I have found in most instances.”
The coach declined comment Wednesday evening. Heebner said Wyatt, who served briefly as defensive coordinator at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville last season, wants to return to the game. “He doesn't want to retire, but (the ruling) gives him some financial security. This will help,” Heebner said.
http://www.news-journalonline.com/a...-B-CU-football-coach-Alvin-Wyatt-awarded-771K
The university fired Wyatt, now 65, two days after the Florida Classic, when the Wildcats suffered a 42-6 defeat to their archrival, Florida A&M. He was replaced by Brian Jenkins, then 39.
B-CU paid Wyatt his $95,000 salary until June 30, 2010, but his contract called for payments to continue another four years, Circuit Judge Terence R. Perkins ruled.
Wyatt had sued for $1.2 million. But the judge wrote that age discrimination, as alleged by Wyatt, was not proven, saying the coach provided “not a shred of evidence” of a discriminatory motive on the part of former President Trudie Kibbe Reed.
Pete Heebner, one of two Daytona Beach attorneys who represented Wyatt, said the coach was “vindicated” by the ruling.
“Obviously we were quite pleased with the result. Portions of the award were reduced by the court, and that's OK. It's up to the court,” Heebner said. “We were disappointed the age discrimination claim didn't have traction with the judge. Those are very difficult cases to win, as I have found in most instances.”
The coach declined comment Wednesday evening. Heebner said Wyatt, who served briefly as defensive coordinator at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville last season, wants to return to the game. “He doesn't want to retire, but (the ruling) gives him some financial security. This will help,” Heebner said.
http://www.news-journalonline.com/a...-B-CU-football-coach-Alvin-Wyatt-awarded-771K
