Low offer sped up ex-UK coach's decision to sue

An attorney for former Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie said Friday his client was reluctant to sue the school but decided he had no choice after receiving a settlement offer for less than one-sixth what he believed he was contractually owed.

2009-10 preview

Demetrious Anaipakos said in a phone interview that a $925,000 offer the university presented on May 1 was the only one the coach ever got after he was fired following two tumultuous seasons as the Wildcats' coach.

"He wasn't excited about suing anyone," Anaipakos said. "He's not a litigious person, but when considering that offer, he just determined the only way was to proceed to court."

The two sides settled this week for nearly $3 million, and Anaipakos said around $260,000 of that was attorney fees.

Although Gillispie and the school never signed a formal contract, a memorandum of understanding indicated he would receive $1.5 million for each of the four years left on his contract if terminated. Gillispie argued that meant UK owed him $6 million, but the university countered the terms weren't active because the formal employment agreement was never signed.