I. Introduction
Parting ways with a college coach accused of violating National
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules has become a delicate
process. On February 8th, the NCAA notified Indiana University that
its men's basketball coach, Kelvin Sampson, had allegedly committed
five "major" NCAA rule violations.[1] After more than a week of
speculation surrounding Sampson's future at Indiana, the school
negotiated a settlement to terminate its relationship with the
second-year coach.[2] In exchange for a $750,000 buyout, Sampson
resigned and agreed not to pursue any legal action against the
university.[3]
On its face, the buyout seems generous for a coach who conceivably
could have been fired outright for cause. Sampson, who was already
under NCAA sanction for prior infractions, had a clause in his contract
that allowed Indiana to terminate him for "significant or repetitive
violations."[4] Nevertheless, Indiana was in a difficult position.
Firing Sampson prior to NCAA hearings on