Nolan Richardson Ruling

Nolan Richardson`s race discrimination lawsuit against the University Arkansas was dismissed today by a federal judge. The basketball coach was fired March first, 2002, and Richardson claimed he was the victim of biased treatment because he is black. University officials said they fired Richardson because he called for his contract to be bought out. US District Judge William R. Wilson Junior ruled in Little Rock that there was no evidence of discrimination and that the case appeared to be based on Richardson`s "wounded pride." Richardson won 389 games at Arkansas, leading the Razorbacks to the 1994 NCAA title and the 1995 championship game. He coached the Razorbacks for 17 seasons. Wilson wrote today that he believes Richardson was sincere in his complaints but that Richardson could not prove his case. ------ Richardson argued that the decision to fire him came after he made racially-charged comments at a news conference the day after he asked for the buyout. Richardson was under a $7.2 million contract when he was fired. The former coach sought a total of $8.86 million to cover back pay, other lost compensation and $ 2 million in damages. The Razorback Foundation, a fund-raising vehicle for the Arkansas athletic department, is paying Richardson $500,000 a year through mid-2008 to buy out his contract. Eighteen days of testimony spanned late May and early June. To read the ruling in the lawsuit that Nolan Richardson filed against the University Of Arkansas, Frank Broyles, and others, click on the following link. http://www.are.uscourts.gov/notice.html