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CLEAR Temp: 51 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Monday, August 5, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend July 27, 2002 Huyett files complaint against Idaho State The former SOU coach is seeking a little over $100,000 for lost wages and more than $200,000 for damage to her reputation and ability to find other coaching jobs By DON HUNT Mail Tribune In her quarter-century of coaching basketball, Shirley Huyett never had reason to seek an attorney. But that changed earlier this year when Huyett was fired as the head women’s coach at Idaho State University just 20 games into her first season at the school. Huyett filed a wrongful termination complaint against the university on May 29 in U.S. District Court in Pocatello and expects to go to trial sometime next year. She and her husband, Ernie, who was an assistant coach with the team, are seeking a little over $100,000 for lost wages and more than $200,000 for damage to their reputations and ability to find other coaching jobs. Shirley Huyett coached Southern Oregon University to a 220-111 record over 11 seasons prior to taking the job at Idaho State on June 30, 2001. In her complaint, Shirley Huyett alleges that she and Idaho State athletic director Howard Gauthier verbally agreed to a three-year contract and not the one-year deal the university claims she signed and agreed to. "At the time, they told me some legal language needed to be straightened out before I could sign it (the three-year contract), but that it was a formality and not to worry about it," said Huyett, who has moved back to Ashland with her family and is currently unemployed. Huyett also alleges that the university didn’t follow its own procedures and give her timely notice when they placed her on a leave of absence on Feb. 4 and eventually discharged her from her job. A hearing on the matter is set for Aug. 4 in Pocatello, Idaho. Huyett said her dismissal was "totally a bombshell that came out of the blue." Her team was in the midst of a six-game losing streak and had lost 12 of its 20 games. But Huyett had a reputation for building winning programs. In fact, she never had a losing season in her 11 years at SOU or 14 years as a high school coach prior to that. Reports surfaced that one or more Idaho State players were having personality conflicts with Huyett and that they had taken their complaints to Gauthier. But was that grounds to fire her? "I really can’t comment about any of the issues because of the lawsuit," Huyett said. "All of this will come out in time." Steve Richert, Huyett’s Pocatello-based attorney, said Idaho State still hasn’t paid Huyett her full salary for last season and the hearing on Aug. 4 will address that matter. "We think we can prove our case despite whatever hurdles are placed in front of us," Richert said. Brad Hall, the general counsel for Idaho State, was unavailable for comment. Huyett said she hopes to return to coaching but added, "it’s not an easy profession to get back into, especially when you have a scar on your record." Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S