UW seeks Neuheisel to repay his loan

By Bob Condotta
Seattle Times staff reporter

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Related stories Neuheisel's home up for sale

The deadline has come and gone for Rick Neuheisel to repay the $1.5 million loan he received from the University of Washington, and UW is expected to file a counter claim in the next day or two to get it back.

Under the contract he signed in August 2002, Neuheisel received the loan, which he had to pay back within 90 days if he was fired with just cause. The deadline was Monday.

UW officials said yesterday they have not received the money, but were giving Neuheisel a couple days before filing a counter claim.

That counter suit is expected to be filed by the end of the week in King County Superior Court.

"Coach Neuheisel has not repaid his $1.5 million loan when due, and the university expects to recover that amount, with interest, in the lawsuit," said Lou Peterson, the special-assistant attorney general representing UW in the litigation initiated by Neuheisel.

Washington's counter claim will become part of the same trial with Neuheisel's suit against the school.

Neuheisel filed suit, seeking damages "in an amount to be proven at trial," in August.

Neuheisel was fired with "just cause" by UW on July 28 for taking part in high-stakes college-basketball pools the past two years and for initially lying about his participation when asked by the NCAA. By being fired with cause, Neuheisel not only had to pay back the loan but was owed no more money on a contract that ran through Jan. 1, 2008. Neuheisel's lawsuit does not ask for immediate relief from the loan.

Neuheisel's lawsuit alleges that Neuheisel did not receive due process from UW and that other employees in the department have been guilty of more serious actions without suffering a similar penalty.

"The University retained other employees, including coaches, who engaged in conduct more serious than that wrongfully alleged to have been committed by Mr. Neuheisel," the suit alleges. "In short, Mr. Neuheisel has not received uniform treatment from the University and his alleged conduct does not rise to the level of just cause for termination."

Copyright © 2003 The Seattle Times Company