Burns receives larger settlement

Although Eastern Washington University announced men’s basketball coach Mike Burns received three months salary when he was fired last week, he received substantially more than that, The Spokesman-Review confirmed.

“My attorney was able to reach a settlement with the university,” Burns said Tuesday. “I can’t confirm the numbers, but I did receive a check. I’m thankful we were able to get that done and that closes the book.”

Interim athletic director Michael Westfall said he was not privy to the details of the settlement.

“I can confirm he got a settlement, any other details from that I can’t,” he said. “At this point we have no additional comment other than I can confirm we had a settlement.”

Less than 48 hours after Burns was fired, word began to circulate that the settlement was for more than announced.

When asked about the possibility of a different settlement Friday, Westfall said he knew nothing about it and it was a matter for personnel.

Westfall terminated Burns’ contract last Wednesday, citing the convenience clause that called for the third-year coach to receive three months severance pay despite two years remaining on his $95,437-a-year deal.

The Termination for Convenience clause, which was added to the contracts of head coaches at Eastern last September, states:

“Employee may be terminated for convenience without cause at the discretion of the Director, with approval of the President, by written notice to the Employee, accompanied by the payment of three months’ current salary as liquated damages, subject to withholding and OASI contributions.”

That meant Burns was entitled to $23,859.25 before taxes and sparked some anger in the coaching fraternity, especially since the firing took place almost three months after the basketball season and all but ensured Burns could not get another job for next season.

The rumors persisted, however, with one Web site reporting the settlement was for approximately 14 months of salary. Burns indicated that was an inflated number.

Westfall has maintained that potential NCAA violations had nothing to do with Burns’ termination. When he revealed the school had self-reported possible violations last Wednesday, he refused to say what they may be because it was an on-going investigation.

A story in The Spokesman-Review on Saturday revealed that the school had forwarded an outside investigation to the NCAA concerning Burns taking Rhett Humphrey off scholarship before last season but increasing compensation from $1,000 to $7,000 to Humphrey’s father Denny for working EWU camps.

Denny Humphrey said it was his understanding the increase was to cover the cost of the scholarship, which Burns adamantly denied.

Westfall said Friday, “The separation was due to the direction of the program, period.”

Burns said he has not heard of any possible jobs.

“The timing of my termination was very difficult and based on that timing, finding employment in the basketball community is going to be equally difficult,” he said.