Williams, MSU agree on settlement

[Louis Cypher]

November 28, 2002

BY JEMELE HILL
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER


EAST LANSING -- The divorce between Michigan State and Bobby Williams was completed Wednesday.

Williams and MSU agreed to a contract settlement that will pay the former football coach $550,000 -- or $335,200 more than the terms in his contract.

Williams received a two-year contract extension last December and had four years left on his contract when he was fired Nov. 4. His base salary was $214,800 and his total compensation package more than $500,000. But a clause stipulated that if he were fired, MSU would owe him one year of his base salary.

MSU officials said it was fair to pay Williams the entire amount he would have earned through June 30, 2003, when his assistants are no long under contract.

"We thought it would be reasonable to pay him the compensation he would have received," spokesman Terry Denbow said.

Roger Groves, Williams' Washington-based attorney, said: "You can take the difficult road or the one that is full of more recognition. . . . It's paying him for 13 years of service."

Payments to Williams will come from the athletic department's budget. In a statement released through the university, Williams said: "For me, this is a fair settlement that permits us all, personally and professionally, to be future-oriented with confidence. I am sure both the university and I share the pride in accomplishments during this tenure, with support from within the university, alumni and fans. I particularly thank the players who I hope will all grow through this experience and turn the lessons from the field into catalysts for prosperity."

Groves said Williams, 16-17 in three years at MSU, had been contacted by other colleges and NFL teams but declined to say which ones.