The University of Oregon is suing Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn due to a dispute over the buyout amount the school claims is owed by its former coach.
Oregon filed a civil suit against Locklyn — who left the school on April 1, 2024, to join the Buckeyes — claiming that he owed the Oregon a buyout of 50 percent of his remaining salary, according to a report from Oregon Live. His salary was approximately $400,000.
Oregon claims that it contacted Locklyn’s agent to request payment of the buyout and that Locklyn “took the position that the amount due is $200,000,” according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit states that a personal check for $200,000 was received by Oregon on May 28, 2024, and the school informed him that it “would not accept payment as full satisfaction of the amount due.”
In his Ohio State contract, it is stated that OSU would pay him $200,000 toward the buyout at Oregon, but after receiving the check, Oregon returned it to Locklyn on July 29 “to ensure that acceptance of the partial payment would not be deemed acceptance and satisfaction of the full amount owed.”
Locklyn’s attorney issued a statement to Oregon Live on the matter.
“Coach Locklyn lawfully terminated his employment agreement with the University of Oregon and promptly delivered a check fully satisfying any possible obligation under the buy-out provision,” said John Berg, Locklyn’s attorney. “The University declined the check, and now asserts an untenable interpretation of the agreement. We welcome the opportunity to present the facts to a judge and are confident the litigation will be resolved to Coach Locklyn’s satisfaction.”
At the time Locklyn joined Ohio State, his buyout was reported to be a prorated amount of his $400,000 salary — officially $366,667. Now, Oregon is seeking $400,000 plus nine percent interest in the lawsuit, Oregon Live says.
