Jones files $3M lawsuit against Alcorn State

By Krysten Oliphant (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Saturday, December 13, 2008

LORMAN — Embattled Alcorn State University football coach Ernest Jones is asking for $3 million in damages in a lawsuit against the university.

The 61-page lawsuit, which was filed Dec. 5 in Hinds County, specifically names Alcorn President George Ross and Athletic Director Darren Hamilton, as well as the Mississippi Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning.

Days later, Jones’ attorney Wayne Ferrell, of Jackson, said he received a letter signed by Hamilton indicating that the first-year coach’s four-year contract was being terminated.

Jones is seeking $1.5 million in actual damages and another $1.5 million in damages “suffered as a result of his detrimental reliance upon the false promises” of the university.

The lawsuit claims that Ross “refused to incorporate the terms and conditions which accurately depicted the terms and conditions” set forth in Jones’ contract when he was hired Dec. 11, 2007. Jones did not receive his official contract until Aug. 11, and its terms were different than what had been agreed upon, according to the lawsuit.

It also alleges that Hamilton began to undermine, interfere with and harass Jones immediately after his April 2007 hiring. It states that Hamilton intentionally breached the terms of Jones’ contract — including barring him from additional earnings through third-party contracts like New Balance shoes — and deliberately failed to provide a work environment conducive to helping Jones succeed.

According to the lawsuit, funds from a non-conference football game at New Mexico State University earlier this season were to go toward a new team weight room that Hamilton failed to provide.

It claims Hamilton made up events of “inexcusable neglect of duty or insubordination” by Jones.

It asks for a temporary restraining order prohibiting Ross or Hamilton from firing Jones or his staff, from freezing Jones’ budget and from interfering with recruiting and coaching.

Jones’ termination comes two weeks after Hamilton fired seven of Jones’ assistant coaches without his knowledge and three days after they were reinstated by Ross.

But Ross, in his first comments since the initial firings, said Jones still has a job.

“There has been no definitive action taken against Ernest Jones,” he said. “Please understand no one has been fired yet.

“I have full faith and confidence in the athletic program at Alcorn State University.”

Ross would not comment further on the firings or anything to do with the lawsuit, and he said any appeal of a coach’s firing would have to go through him as Chief Executive of the university.

Ricky Lefft, of Columbia, S.C., an attorney representing Jones, said Jones does plan to appeal.

He said Ross’s statement is based on a technicality.

“What he’s hanging his hat on is, there’s a procedural process with the (Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning),” he said. “They word it as a recommendation because they simply have to go through this process. If they decide internally through the appeals process that he can be terminated on that basis, he’s terminated.”

Lefft said Jones plans to appeal the firing to the IHL board.

But IHL Director of Media Relations Annie Mitchell said, in general, firings of coaches and their appeals do not come through the IHL. She said she could not comment on the Alcorn State case specifically because of ongoing litigation.

Associate head coach Earnest Collins, offensive coordinator Dino Dawson, running backs coach Terrance Robinson, linebackers coach Zach Shay, secondary coach Jack Phillips, strength and conditioning coach Lorenzo Guess and defensive line coach Lorenzo Guess each received letters in their boxes from Hamilton the evening before Thanksgiving Day notifying them their one-year contracts would not be renewed.

Hamilton refused to explain why the coaches were fired but said the decision was made the day after the Braves 26-21 loss to Jackson State in the Capital City Classic Nov. 22 in Jackson.

But in a Dec. 8 meeting with Ross, all seven coaches were reinstated.

The Braves went 2-10 in their first season under Jones, but lost six games by 6 points or less and four games in the final minute of play.

Despite the turmoil, Jones is still recruiting.

The coach was leaving a recruiting stop at Velma Jackson High School early Friday afternoon.

All Jones would say was that he was continuing with business as usual.