Four people lost their jobs after Minnesota’s academic fraud report was released, but former coach Clem Haskins, who lost his job in June, is the only former university employee who is $1.5 million richer.
It is unlikely the university will recover the money from Haskins, even though the report showed he broke rules over many years to keep his players eligible.
Haskins was given a $1,500,537 lump-sum payment to cover the final three years of his contract. In return he agreed to cooperate with investigators.
School President Mark Yudof was asked several times Friday whether it was possible to rescind the buyout now that the university believes Haskins broke regulations forbidding academic fraud and improper payments to players. Yudof responded that it was unlikely but said university lawyers would look into it.
“In general once a contract is signed, it’s a contract and it’s not very easy to recover money,” said Ellen Sampson, an employment lawyer and expert on contract disputes.
