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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Akey files suit against Idaho

Former Idaho football coach Robb Akey has filed a lawsuit against the university and the State Board of Education in an attempt to claim a lump-sum media payment withheld from him when he was fired in October.

Akey confirmed the lawsuit Tuesday night to The Spokesman-Review. He declined to go into the specifics of the suit, only to say "Ray Charles could see" what he was seeking from his former employer.

If Akey had finished the 2012 season, he would have received the second of two $105,000 media payments as part of his roughly $375,000 salary. But he was let go with four games left on the Vandals' schedule.

Shortly after he was fired, Akey told the S-R, "If I had coached four more games, they would have had to pay me a third of my salary. You lose a third of your salary it affects your ability to feed your family, so it’s a little disappointing."

His contract stated that he would receive the second half of the media payment "provided (he) has fully participated in media programs and public appearances" through the team's final regular season game or postseason appearance. 

Akey, whose record was 20-50 as Idaho coach, will be paid his base annual salary of $165,796 through the end of 2014 if he doesn't find a job before then.

Idaho athletic director Rob Spear told the S-R that his department doesn't comment on pending litigation.



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