FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas board of trustees has filed a breach of contract complaint against former UA assistant football coach John Scott Jr. seeking more than $187,000 in liquidated damages.
The 34-page complaint was filed Nov. 8 in Washington County Circuit Court by Matt McCoy, senior associate general counsel for the UA. The complaint claims Scott was obligated to pay the UA $187,862.32 in liquidated damages by Feb. 22, 2019.
Scott, 43, served two years as the defensive line coach for the Razorbacks in 2017-18, the final year of the Bret Bielema regime and the first year of Chad Morris’ tenure.
Scott, a native of Greer, S.C., resigned in January 2019 to take a similar position at the University of South Carolina at an annual salary of $435,000.
Scott signed an agreement with the Razorbacks on Jan. 19, 2018, at a salary of $340,000 per year though Feb. 28, 2020.
According to the complaint, Scott was contractually bound to pay the UA 50% of the annual salary remaining on his agreement if he left Arkansas prior to the end of the contract period. The payment was to be due within 30 days of Scott’s departure, according to the complaint, citing Scott’s contract.
According to the complaint, South Carolina Coach Will Muschamp called Morris on Dec. 31, 2018, to inquire about hiring Scott, and Morris advised Muschamp of Scott’s obligation to pay the UA liquidated damages.
The UA also claims Scott met with senior deputy athletic director Julie Cromer Peoples on or about Jan. 18, 2019, to discuss leaving the UA program, and that Scott sent a text to AD Hunter Yurachek at the same time asking “if anything could be done” about his obligation. In the complaint, the UA says both Cromer Peoples and Yurachek reiterated his obligation, and that Yurachek said he would not waive Scott’s obligation.
The complaint states the UA “has made several demands to Defendant for payment of the amount and multiple attempts to resolve this matter without litigation” but Scott “has refused to pay the UA any amount or make any arrangements for payment of the amount he owes to the UA.”