Former Georgia Southern Coaches Sue for Alleged Fraud, Breach of Contract

Georgia Southern's former co-offensive coordinators, David Dean and Rance Gillespie, have filed lawsuits against head coach Tyson Summers, several school administrators, including athletics director Tom Kleinlein, and the Georgia Southern athletic association, according to Dan Wolken of USA Today. 

The pair, who were fired after the team's 5-7 record last season, allege in their lawsuits "breach of contract, fraud and tortious interference after the school failed to execute the 18-month contracts the coaches signed initially, then pressured them to sign shorter deals two days before their dismissal."

Per Wolken's report, Dean and Gillespie signed 18-month contracts on Jan. 27, 2016, with June 30, 2017 being the final day of the agreement. But the pair allege they found out nine months later that the Board of Regents and the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation didn't sign the contracts. They allege Summers then told the staff new contracts were in the works.

The coaches then reportedly received new contracts on Nov. 16, with an end date of Feb. 28, 2017.

Wolken added: 

"The lawsuit alleges that Summers, Kleinlein, senior associate athletics director for business operations Jeff Blythe and director of football operations Cymone George 'conspired to change the terms of the January Contract and specifically the employment end date' in order to save money, knowing they would be making coaching changes on the offensive staff."

Dean said he didn't intend to sign the new contract but was informed by Blythe that he could be fired at a moment's notice without pay or benefits. Gillespie said he was told the same.

The pair are reportedly seeking "damages including, but not limited to, the loss of compensation plus accrued interest and attorney fees."