Kent State University has been awarded a $1.2 million judgement against former men’s basketball coach Geno Ford. The university filed the lawsuit for breach of contract after Ford ditched the college to take a job at Bradley University.

The judgment was announced by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and the university. According to DeWine:

“Ohio’s public colleges and universities have a duty to students and taxpayers to be wise stewards of tuition and taxpayer moneys. When coaches and high-profile employees leave public universities in breach of their contracts, the state of Ohio has an obligation to seek the compensation to which it is entitled. I am pleased that the Court has awarded the damages due to Kent State.”

Portage County Common Pleas Judge John A. Enlow granted Attorney General DeWine’s and Kent State’s request for judgment against former men’s basketball coach on July 12.

Judge Enlow awarded the damages because the liquidated damages provision in Ford’s contract kicked in based on resignation or termination. The university was granted the right to liquidated damages totaling the balance of Ford’s annual salary due for the remaining amount of his contract term.

Geno Ford was hired by Kent State University in 2008 and was awarded a five-year, $200,000 annual salary. In April 2010 Kent State and Ford agreed to a new contract that extended his employment through the 2014-2015 season. The new salary was agreed upon at $300,000. However, in March 2011 Geno Ford resigned from Kent State University so he could take a job at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.

Kent State swiftly filed a lawsuit against Geno Ford and Bradley University on April 26, 2011.

Kent State is now pursuing Bradley University for torturous interference with Kent State’s contractual relationship with Coach Ford.

Kent State University v. Bradley University will move forward to trial on October 7, 2013.

Do you think Geno Ford and Bradley University deserve to pay Kent State University based on their combined actions?