NCAA Settles with Jerry Tarkanian in $14.1 Million Lawsuit

Strategic Insights -

NCAA Executive Director Cedric Dempsey had been expected to make a statement earlier today, but instead, sources close to the parties involved announced that the National Collegiate Athletic Association has agreed to pay multimillion-dollar settlement to settle Jerry Tarkanian's longstanding lawsuit against the organization. The settlement comes after the NCAA lost at least four mock trials, with the final trial set to begin in just a few weeks. Tarkanian's lawsuit, which seeks $14.1 million in damages, has been a long-standing issue, dating back to his time as a coach at California State University, Long Beach in 1973.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NCAA is expected to pay $2.5 million to settle Jerry Tarkanian's lawsuit, which had been scheduled to go to trial May 18.
  • The settlement comes after the NCAA lost at least four mock trials, with the final trial set to begin in just a few weeks.
  • Jerry Tarkanian, 67, had alleged that the NCAA began a campaign to oust him from basketball while he coached at California State University, Long Beach in 1973.
  • The suit sought compensation for emotional distress to his wife, Lois, and unspecified monetary damages for Tarkanian.
  • Tarkanian has agreed to admit that he made mistakes, such as recruiting Lloyd Daniels while he was at UNLV.
  • Tarkanian expects to receive a lump sum payment from the NCAA, which will cover his legal fees totaling over $400,000.
  • Terry Giles, Tarkanian's lawyer, said this would be the first time the NCAA has had to make such a payment.
  • Lawyers on both sides had taken depositions tracing back a quarter century through Tarkanian's career at Long Beach and UNLV.

Statistics:

  • $14.1 million: The monetary damages sought by Jerry Tarkanian in his lawsuit against the NCAA
  • $2.5 million: The amount the NCAA is expected to pay to settle the lawsuit
  • $400,000: The total amount of Tarkanian's legal fees

Sources:

  • Sources close to Tarkanian and his lawyers
  • ESPN's "Up Close" program
  • The Fresno Bee
  • UNLV athletic department
  • NCAA executive director Cedric Dempsey