LITTLE ROCK - A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed an attempt by the Arkansas athletic department's fund-raising arm to reclaim money it has paid to Nolan Richardson, ruling that the fired basketball coach has made adequate attempts to find work under terms of his contract.
The Razorback Foundation, which is buying out Richardson's contract at $500,000 a year through June 2008, had filed a counterclaim to the ex-coach's discrimination lawsuit.
Under terms of Richardson's buyout, he had to seek a new job and any money he got coaching another school or with a professional team would reduce the foundation's obligation to him by the same amount. The Razorback Foundation said Richardson hadn't made serious attempts to find work.
But U.S. District Judge William R. Wilson Jr. said the ex-coach had looked for work and that Richardson's age, 62, and the suit might be factors in his inability to find a job.
Arkansas fired Richardson on March 1, 2002, saying he had expressed a lack of faith in the Razorback basketball program by saying publicly he would leave the school if it bought out his contract.
Richardson sued, alleging racial discrimination and a violation of his free speech rights.
Under Richardson's contract, the Razorback Foundation is buying out Richardson's $7.21-million contract at just under half its value.
The judge noted that Richardson had hired agents to help him find work and that the coach had either had discussions or made inquiries to Auburn, Miami, Oregon State and Texas-El Paso.
"I think he used reasonable efforts to contact other universities and he has enlisted agents to look for a job for him," Wilson ruled. "It may be that the filing of this lawsuit hindered him from getting another job. I did not consider that in making my ruling."
NEVADA: Mark Fox was hired as Nevada's coach after working four years as an assistant under Trent Johnson, who resigned a week ago to coach Stanford.
SAMPSON TABBED: Kelvin Sampson of Oklahoma was named coach of the U.S. team that will try to qualify for the 20-and-under World Championships.
Elsewhere
MEN'S GOLF: Jeff Hood shot 5-under-par 65 to help California take a one-stroke lead in Hot Springs, Va., after the first round of the NCAA Championships.
The Golden Bears shot 1-under 279 on the 6,679-yard Cascades Course. Brigham Young (280) was second, a stroke ahead of TCU (281). Florida (285) was in a three-way tie for seventh.
FOOTBALL: Notre Dame changed its schedule and will now open Sept. 4 at BYU, giving the Fighting Irish a game before they play Michigan.
USF: The first of 10 "Around the Horns" booster events in June is at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Tampa. The luncheon features athletic director Doug Woolard, football coach Jim Leavitt, men's basketball coach Robert McCullum and track coaches Greg Thiel and Rita Arndt-Molis. The cost is $20. To register go to www.gousfbulls.com ... Leavitt and 25 football players will assist Habitat for Humanity in building a home Saturday for a family in Wimauma.
- Times staff writer Pete Young contributed to this report.
