South Carolina State University head football coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough wants Gerald Harrison back on his coaching staff.

While Pough would not directly address the issue with The Times and Democrat, his attorney did send a letter to university officials this week saying Pough’s contract was breached in two different ways when Harrison was laid off without his being notified.

In his letter to the university, attorney Joseph R. Lefft claims Pough’s contract gives him the sole authority to determine the composition of his staff throughout the term of his existing agreement with the university. Also, his contract says he is entitled to the maximum number of coaches allowable under the NCAA Constitution and Bylaws, the letter says.

He claims the university laid off Harrison without Pough’s consent, and asks that the university immediately reinstate Harrison.

When reached via phone Friday, Pough declined to comment on the matter.

Lefft said, “Someone leaked that coach Harrison has been terminated.

“(Pough’s) contract provides that he has the authority to provide who will be fired and terminated in regards to his program. (Harrison’s firing) is a breach of (Pough’s) contract. What we have done is inform the university that is a violation of the contract, a breach of the contract, and that we want to have them rectify or cure the issue.”

He is asking the university to respond to his letter within 10 days of the date it was sent, July 23.

Harrison confirmed to The T&D on Monday that he would no longer be employed by the school following July 31.

In his letter, Lefft says that while Athletic Director Charlene Johnson and Pough discussed the financial condition of the athletic department and possible reductions in force, losing Harrison was not discussed.

He argues Harrison is the team’s director of football operations and a defensive line coach, and is considered to be the Bulldogs’ top recruiter. He argues the loss will have a detrimental impact on the football program beyond the current season.

He also says Pough previously agreed to freeze the opening created when defensive assistant Joel Taylor resigned to take another coaching job.

“The thing is, we are saying, you guys are saying you are holding coach to a standard of performance,” Lefft said. “Even though we have some issues here in terms of the economy, there are decisions being made that have some long-term implications to the program from a competitive standpoint as well as the resources being made available to the student athletes.

“Everyone needs to be mindful that this process of getting to where (Pough) has gotten the program has not been easy because the school has not had a lot of resources. Given that it is the flagship program, there are some areas of concern with decisions made by the administration within the last 12 months, that if not evaluated, could have some negative impact in terms of the viability of the program in the future.”

S.C. State President Dr. George Cooper confirmed that he received the letter on Friday.

“I received it this morning,” he said. “I am reviewing it and I will respond as requested.”

The T&D reported Wednesday that S.C. State was laying off 12 workers as part of a reduction-in-force plan. In a brief statement, Cooper blamed budget cuts for the moves.

“As a result, we must take a difficult measure to address the shortfall – reducing our personnel services budget; therefore the university has implemented a reduction in force as one means of reducing the personnel services budget,” he said.

On Monday, Johnson would only say that the university was “dealing with some personnel issues,” directing questions on the layoffs of Harrison and Senior Associate Athletics Director Brantley Evans, as well as a question regarding her contract, to Cooper.

Although he confirmed he received Pough’s letter, Cooper has declined to answer several interview requests by The T&D concerning the personnel moves within the athletic department.

“Let me simply say that every contract is a mutual agreement of the parties,” Lefft said. “What we are doing is raising concern that certain decisions are being made affecting the program, some of which are in violation and in breach of the program. We have an obligation to make (Cooper) aware of that.”

T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be reached via e-mail at blinder@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5553.

You must be logged in to comment.