The University of Oregon is suing former running backs coach Carlos Locklyn due to a dispute over the buyout amount the school claims it is owed by the Ohio State assistant.
UO filed a civil suit against Locklyn for breach of contract in Lane County Circuit Court earlier this month, claiming when he left UO for Ohio State on April 1, 2024, he owed Oregon a buyout of 50% of his remaining salary through the full term of his then-recently signed contract — approximately $400,000 — within 60 days and has yet to pay the school. Locklyn’s attorney claims Oregon is making an “untenable interpretation” of the contract.
Oregon claims that when it contacted Locklyn’s agent to request payment of the buyout, Locklyn “took the position that the amount due is $200,000.” The contract Locklyn signed at Ohio State last year states it would pay him $200,000 toward the buyout at Oregon.
Noting this apparent discrepancy, The Oregonian/OregonLive asked an Oregon athletics spokesman for clarification about
Locklyn’s buyout amount last April and was told $366,667 — $400,000 prorated based on a Feb. 1, 2024, to Jan. 31, 2025, contract year — was accurate.
According to UO’s lawsuit, Locklyn mailed a personal check to the school for $200,000 on May 28 last year, after which the school informed him it “would not accept the payment as full satisfaction of the amount due.” Oregon claims it returned the $200,000 check 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.”
The sides have not reached a resolution as “despite the University’s demand, (Locklyn) has failed to pay the University the full amount due,” the school alleges in the suit filed by outside counsel from Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, P.C.
“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, an attorney at Littler Mendelson P.C., which is representing Locklyn in the matter. “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.”
Oregon is seeking $400,000 plus 9% interest and states until it is paid those funds Locklyn “will be unjustly enriched to the University’s detriment.”
An Ohio State football spokesman did not immediately respond to request for comment.
UO hired Ra’Shaad Samples and paid $180,000 toward his buyout at Arizona State last year to replace Locklyn, who earned $650,000 in salary at Ohio State last season plus $227,500 for winning the College Football Playoff National Championship.
