BY ASHLEY THOMAS  
FLORIDA COURIER

Clifford Reed, former head basketball coach at Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) and the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, is suing the university over his firing in June.

Clifford Reed

A 13-page complaint was filed Tuesday in the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court in Volusia County in which the coach contends that he was "wrongfully terminated" and has suffered "infliction of emotional distress.’’

The suit also cites defamation of character. The complaint requests awards for benefits, compensatory damages and reinstatement to his former position.

Representing Reed is attorney Diego Handel, who filed the lawsuit. It states that during Reed’s 10 years as head coach, the B-CU basketball program was "never investigated, criticized, or received any sanctions by any sanctioning body including the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) or the NCAA."

Coach cites ‘abusive tactics’

In his suit against the university and its Board of Trustees, Reed says the university "employed harsh, repressive and abusive tactics in attempting to investigate plaintiff" and "knowingly made and published false accusations to other employees… made in bad faith and for no legitimate business purpose… with reckless disregard for the truth."

The complaint further notes that Reed had "an outstanding reputation at B-CU and within the community as a good citizen and excellent head coach."

The suit further states that although the contract for Reed notes that B-CU is obligated to notify all non-first year professors "in writing, not later than January 15, if the contract will not be renewed," Reed was terminated the following June. He had been with the college for 14 years, serving 10 as head basketball coach and said his employment contract had already "automatically rolled over for a five (5) year period and was to expire in 2015."

In a letter to Reed this past June, university President Trudie Kibbe Reed – no relation to the former coach – said her decision to terminate the coach was based on his "failure to cooperate and insubordination with respect to the university’s investigation into allegations against the university and its men’s basketball program."

Coach, son led school to NIT

Coach Reed and his son, star point guard C.J. Reed, had been lauded nationwide for leading the Wildcats to their first winning season since joining Division I in 1980-81. B-CU went 21-13 overall and 13-3 in the MEAC, winning the regular season crown.

The Wildcats made their first postseason appearance with a trip to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), losing to Virginia Tech in the opening round.

Reed was MEAC Coach and National Association of Black Coaches, Coach of the Year for Region 15. C.J. was named MEAC Player of the Year, HBCU Player of the Year and HBCU First Team All-American.

It all came crashing down when B-CU announced in a 51-word press release that after an internal administrative review that the coach would not return, his contract would not be renewed, and his employment was terminated effective immediately.

Firing follows assault probe

B-CU has stated that the coach was let go because of his "failure to cooperate and insubordination with respect to the University’s investigation into allegations against the University and its men’s basketball program."

Coach Reed argues that he was fired because he wasn’t allowed to retain legal counsel for son C.J.  who had been named in a Daytona Beach police report relating to a sexual assault. The investigation was closed after the accuser recounted her statement to Daytona Beach police. No criminal charges were ever filed against C.J. He has since transferred to the University of Central Florida.

A response requested from Bethune-Cookman had not been received by the Courier’s presstime.