UConn, Ollie Announce $3.9 Million Settlement In Remaining Litigation

STORRS, CT — The University of Connecticut and former men's player and basketball coach Kevin Ollie have reached an agreement to settle their outstanding differences for $3.9 million.

UConn and Ollie released the following joint statement Thursday:

"The University of Connecticut and former head men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie have reached an agreement to resolve all outstanding matters related to his former employment with the University and avoid further costly and protracted litigation. The settlement includes a payment of $3.9 million to Ollie for claimed reputational damages and attorney's fees."

Ollie offered his own statement:

"I am grateful that we were able to reach agreement," Ollie said. "My time at UConn as a student athlete and coach is something I will always cherish. I am pleased that this matter is now fully and finally resolved."

According to the agreement, the parties "will not comment on this matter any further."

In January, an independent arbitrator ruled that UConn improperly fired Ollie. The ruling was accompanied by a requirement that the university pay him more than $11 million and UConn said the check was cut a month later.

Ollie's representatives said the ruling was justified. Ollie was fired in the spring of 2018 in the wake of UConn reporting several NCAA violations within the storied men's basketball program, which Ollie was a part of as both a player and the hand-picked successor to Hall of Fame Coach Jim Calhoun.

The Huskies were 127-79 in Ollie's six seasons at the helm.

UConn officials said the ruling suggests that coaches can abide by their own standards and not those of the NCAA. One of the conclusions was that UConn should have waited until an NCAA ruling was issued — that would have been 16 months later — before firing Ollie. The violations led to UConn being placed on two years' worth of NCAA probation.

The violations took place between 2013 and 2018 and Ollie was also reprimanded.

UConn officials implied it would have been unethical to retain a coach knowing sanctions were imminent.

The exact amount paid to Ollie was $11,157,032.95, according to the ruling.

Thursday's settlement was in reference to all other outstanding litigation, the parties said.