Ex TSU Hoops Coach Says He Should Be The Man - Law Firm Shellist & Lazarz, Ltd, LLP Attorneys Houston, Texas

Skip to navigation
Skip to content

Ex TSU Hoops Coach Says He Should Be The Man

Fox News Houston
March 28, 2008

HOUSTON -- Former Texas Southern University assistant men's basketball coach Kevin Granger believes he has a valid contract to become the next head coach at TSU. However, he was terminated by Interim Athletics Director Johnnie Cole on March 17 and told the school would move in a different direction.

On Friday, Houston attorney Martin Shellist sent a letter to TSU President Dr. John Rudley, on behalf of Granger, requesting the school "make right that which was made wrong against Mr. Granger."

FOX 26 Sports has obtained a copy of that letter and a copy of the contractual agreement Granger believes backs up his claim.

In the letter Shellist writes: "In December 2007, Mr. Granger was asked by then TSU Athletic Director Alois Blackwell whether he wanted the position of TSU head men's basketball coach beginning March 30, 2008. After negotiating the salary, Mr. Granger accepted the offer, which was consistent with what he had been previously told."

The contract agreement between Granger and the school, obtained by FOX 26, is written on school stationary and is labeled "Tentative negotiations and items entered into a contract with Kevin Granger as the Head Men's Basketball Coach for Texas Southern University."

The agreement is for five years with a base salary of $100,000. Among the incentives in the contract Granger was to have been paid an additional $10,000 if TSU made the NCAA Tournament and another $5000 for every win in the NCAA Tournament.

The contract was signed by Granger, Blackwell, and then TSU Chief Financial Officer Billy Owens. TSU's Interim President at the time, J. Timothy Boddie, Jr., did not sign the agreement.

Of Granger, Shellist writes to TSU: "TSU's conduct will significantly affect him financially. Additionally, the emotional toll this has taken on him is great."

Shellist also claims in the letter the school is about to hire former Missouri Associate Head Basketball coach Tony Harvey as TSU's new men's basketball coach.

The letter does not ask for Granger to be a paid a specific amount of money, nor does it specifically ask the school to name Granger the head coach. Shellist does ask the school to get in contact with him "within the next five business days to discuss these important matters."

Cole confirmed for FOX 26 Sports that Dr. Rudley had received the letter and said it will not affect how the school does business.

"The University stands behind its decision," said Cole. "Mr. Granger was offered an opportunity to pursue the job like anyone else and turned it down."

Cole did not comment on the school's search for a new basketball coach.

When contacted by FOX 26 Shellist declined to comment on the specifics of his letter. However, he offered a response to the school's stance.

"Mr. Cole's comments are not accurate and, if necessary, will be proven as such in a court of law," Shellist said.

Granger had been hired by the school, where he starred as a player, on a six-month contract that was set to expire March 30, 2008. He went to work for Robert Moreland who was working as the school's interim head coach.

Successes

$730K settlement awarded in gender discrimination case
A federal court jury Friday returned a $730,000 gender discrimination judgment in favor of Surina Dixon - who was hired as women's basketball coach at Texas Southern University in March 2008 but left in a contract dispute without coaching a game.
$3.2M settlement awarded in sexual harassment case
A former Brazoria County judge has been ordered to pay more than $3 million to three women who say he sexually harassed them while he was on the bench.
$875,000 Settlement in Whistleblower suit against the City of Houston
The city council agreed to pay $875,000 to a veterinarian who successfully sued the City of Houston; after he was unfairly fired from his job at the city's animal pound for complaining of animal abuse at the kennel. The jury found him retaliated against by his superiors who fired him with prejudice.
Wage & Hour Settlement in the amount of $574,000
Our firm represented 70 current and former servers of a restaurant chain that required its servers to share a portion of their tips with the managers and owners of the restaurant.
$375,000 Jury Verdict in a Gender Discrimination suit against the Houston Police Department
The jury found a female HPD cadet was discriminated against because of her gender when she was fired from the cadet class. HPD said she violated the Cadet Code of Conduct by carrying a gun in her personal car; however there were previous cases where male cadets were only reprimanded and not terminated.
Sexual Harassment Settlement in excess of $300,000
Our firm represented several employees who were sexually harassed by a male supervisor. After obtaining a letter of determination from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, our firm was able to negotiate a settlement in excess of $300,000.
Verdict in excess of $300,000 in National Origin Discrimination Case
Our firm represented a former dental professor at the University of Texas Health & Science Center who was discriminated against based on his national origin. At trial, we provided evidence of racial slurs, retaliation, and disparate wages in comparison to white professors. After two days of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the professor and awarded mental anguish damages in excess of $150,000.
$250,000 Jury Verdict in a Racial Discrimination suit against Montgomery County Sheriff's Department
The jury found the Lieutenant was demoted from a Detective to Recruiting because he is black. He was terminated six months after complaining to authorities. The jury agreed the termination was a form of retaliation and awarded him lost wages past and future.
$229,268 Jury Verdict in a Reverse Discrimination suit against the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority ("Metro")
A white male employee sued the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority ("Metro") alleging race discrimination in violation of Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code. The employee was denied a promotion to the position of Superintendent despite being the most qualified person for the position. The jury found that the interview panel was tainted by a person on the panel, the second term president of the local chapter of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials ("COMTO"), and an organization which promotes the creation of opportunities for minorities.
Same-Sex Sexual Harassment Settlement in excess of $150,000
Our firm represented a male employee who was sexually harassed by another male employee at a construction company. We were able to open dialogue with the construction company and bring about a quick resolution for our client.
Wage & Hour Settlement in excess of $149,000
Our firm represented 16 current and former waitresses at two popular bars that required their waitresses to work off-the-clock and to share a portion of their tips with members of management. The bar also failed to pay its waitresses overtime for hours they worked in excess of 40 in a work week. Our firm was able to demonstrate that the bar's actions were in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which resulted in settlement.
Arbitration award in excess of $120,000 in a Breach of Employment Contract suit.
An employee of a Houston based company was terminated in breach of his employment contract. The company alleged that the employee had performance issues which allowed the company to terminate the employee under its "for cause" provision. Our firm was able to show that the alleged performance issues were false and that the company breached the employment agreement by terminating the employee prior to the expiration of the term of the agreement.
$115,000 Jury Verdict in a Racial Discrimination suit against the INS
The jury found the INS discriminated against a black inspector. The inspector filed a complaint with authorities in the department for being passed over for promotion. The jury determined that passengers were solicited and asked to prepare written complaints against the employee to be used against him as a basis for termination. . The jury found the INS acted with prejudice toward the inspector.
$106,000 Jury Verdict in Wrongful Termination suit against the City of Houston
The jury found the city acted with malice in firing a dog-catcher for reporting instances of animal cruelty and racial discrimination of Hispanic workers to a supervisor. Jurors concluded the city violated the state whistle-blower law, which prevents government agencies from retaliating against employees simply for reporting problems.
Wage & Hour Settlement in the amount of $100,000
We filed suit on behalf of six servers of a fine dining establishment under the Fair Labor Standards Act, arguing that the restaurant's requirement that its servers share a percentage of their tips with the restaurant's manager was in violation of federal law. The parties were able to reach resolution of the matter at mediation.
Wage & Hour Settlement in the amount of $100,000
The firm filed a collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act on behalf of five current and former servers of a fine dining establishment, arguing that the restaurant violated federal law by failing to pay its servers overtime, requiring them to work off-the-clock, and requiring that its servers share a portion of their tips with the restaurant's manager on duty. After notice of the lawsuit was mailed to other current and former servers, an additional seven servers joined the lawsuit. The parties settled the case at mediation.
Wage & Hour Settlement in the amount of $95,000
An employee of a communications company was terminated when he complained to management that he was not receiving overtime pay for hours he worked in excess of 40 in a work week. The company alleged that the employee was not entitled to overtime because he was exempt under the computer professional exemption to the Fair Labor Standards Act, and that the employee was terminated because he refused to sign a non-competition agreement. Our firm was able to demonstrate that the employee did not meet the duties of an exempt computer professional, which resulted in settlement of the matter.

Shellist | Lazarz | Slobin is not affiliated with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Please click on the link to contact the EEOC.

The law firm of Shellist | Lazarz | Slobin in Houston, Texas specializes in employment law. We have a nation-wide practice that represents employers and employees across the United States and throughout Texas including Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, Galveston, Pasadena, Bellaire, Arcola, Baytown, Port Arthur, College Station, Brownsville, Beaumont, Orange, Vidor and McAllen.

FirmSite® by FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters business.