Former Mizzou assistant football coach sues over contract dispute

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former assistant coach for the University of Missouri football team claims the school still owes him money following his departure.

Derek Dooley filed a lawsuit in Boone County claiming the university must still pay him a year's worth of his salary under the terms of his contract.

The university hired Dooley in 2018 as offensive coordinator. He originally agreed to a $900,000 yearly salary lasting until 2022, but the school upped the payment in March 2019 to $925,000. The school let Dooley go in December of that same year, along with head coach Barry Odom.

A clause in Dooley's contract requires the school pay out the rest of the money owed to him under the agreement in monthly installments, "but in no event to exceed 12 months." Dooley's lawsuit said the school has not yet made such payments, even after Dooley requested them.

Todd Johnson, Dooley's Kansas City-based attorney, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon.

The N.F.L.'s New York Giants hired Dooley in January 2020 as an offensive assistant.

An MU spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit.