HIGHER EDUCATION; SPORTS;

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT;

You asked for further information on the settlement of the former UCONN athletic director’s contract. In OLR Report 2003-R-0527, we indicated that the contract of Lewis Perkins, the former UCONN athletic director, contained a provision that required the university to release him from his contract upon payment of $ 200,000. In that report, we stated that the university indicated that the provision had been enforced. You wanted to know if the entire $ 200,000 was received or if some lesser amount was agreed to.

Alvin Wilson, legislative liaison for the University of Connecticut, has provided us with the following explanation of the enforcement of the buyout provision. Upon his leaving UCONN, Mr. Perkins claimed that he was owed approximately $ 100,000 by UCONN. His claim was reviewed and the university apparently agreed that it was obligated for this amount. Thus, the final buyout amount was agreed to be $ 100,000. Mr. Perkins has four years to pay the $ 100,000 to UCONN. He may pay it all at once or in annual installments. However, he must pay at least $ 25,000 annually.

We asked for a clarification as to whether the amount Mr. Perkins claimed the university was obligated to him for was based on remuneration stipulated by the contract or for some other reasons. We have not received this clarification from UCONN yet and will forward it to you when Mr. Wilson provides it to us.

JJF: eh