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NC State is investigating possible lawsuits against LSU related to the departure of men’s basketball coach Will Wade for a second tenure as Tigers coach. This includes the question of whether LSU violated any North Carolina state law.
North Carolina State Vice Chancellor and General Counsel Allison B. Newhart wrote to her LSU counterpart Carlton Jones last week about the matter, a development first reported by WRAL in Raleigh. The letter was later obtained by The Associated Press through a records request.
According to NC State, he received three email messages from LSU asking the school to “sign a waiver of liability” against LSU in the Wade matter.
Letter cites state law leading to potential financial harm
Newhart’s letter from last Thursday said the school “has not agreed – and now does not agree – to release LSU from any liability” related to Wade’s departure after one season with the Wolfpack in March.
“Instead, NC State is investigating whether LSU improperly induced Coach Wade to terminate his employment contract, induced Coach Wade to terminate his employment contract, and interfered with the timing of the termination of the employment contract to result in diminished damages – all to the detriment of NC State,” Newhart wrote.
This includes whether LSU violated the state’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act; violations may result in financial damages and attorney’s fees.
Contacted by the AP on Wednesday, North Carolina State spokeswoman Lauren Barker said the school had no additional comment beyond the contents of the letter. LSU spokesman Michael Bonnette declined to comment to the AP.
Timing of Wade buyout payment a key factor
LSU hired Wade on March 26, two weeks after Wade publicly stated he was determined to win big at NC State in year two.
Wade’s contract buyout was for $5 million, but was expected to drop to $3 million after April 1. At the time, athletic director Boo Corrigan said the school agreed to lower that amount to $4 million to close the deal and not delay the search for a successor that landed former Wolfpack player and Tennessee assistant Justin Gainey in less than a week.
Newhart’s letter says North Carolina State received a $4 million telegram from LSU on May 8 for Wade’s buyout. But she also writes that NC State considers the matter resolved “solely with respect to Coach Wade’s personal obligations” and that the payment “does not absolve LSU from possible legal exposure.”
Specifically, the letter states that NC State “has reason to suspect that ‘LSU may have influenced efforts to avoid or delay’ notification to the school of the lawsuit seeking to trigger the lower buyout payment after April 1.”
Reporting for Associated Press.
