MINNEAPOLIS – A judge has reduced the amount of money the University of Minnesota must pay to a former Oklahoma State basketball coach who sued the school and coach Tubby Smith after they decided not to hire him.
In court documents Tuesday, Hennepin County Judge Regina Chu denied a request for a retrial, saying there was a reasonable basis for the jury's verdict. She said alleged misconduct by Williams' attorneys was minor and did not prejudice the jury.
The judge reduced the money award from $1.25 million to the $1 million limit of the university's insurance policy.
Williams claimed Smith falsely represented he had the authority to hire him when the two talked in 2007 about an assistant coach position in Minnesota. Williams quit at Oklahoma State, but he wasn't hired by Minnesota after Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi said Williams had NCAA recruiting violations in his past.
General Counsel Mark Rotenberg says the university is pleased the judge reduced the award but still plans to appeal.
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