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Ollie, the former Huskies star who coached the university's men's basketball program for four years - including an NCAA championship win in his second season - is fighting back after being fired in March amid an NCAA investigation.
Ollie's lawyers have accused UConn officials of violating constitutional rights by firing him for “just cause” before he was offered an opportunity to contest the decision.
In response, Ollie's attorneys sent a letter to the university to kick off a battle over the near $10 million that was left on his contract when he was terminated. Ollie was replaced by former Rhode Island head coach Dan Hurley last month.
UConn remains under investigation, though the scope of which is not clear.
“From our review of the facts and circumstances relating to Coach Ollie's employment status, it is apparent that the University of Connecticut has already violated his rights under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution by subverting Coach Ollie's opportunity to respond to charges and evidence in a meaningful way in advance of the decision to terminate his employment,” the letter states, according to the Hartford Courant.
“The public record, action taken, and authorized communications by representatives of the University of Connecticut, demonstrate that the decision to terminate Coach Ollie has already been made and therefore the University of Connecticut has effectively negated Coach Ollie's property right protected by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.”
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