Earl Holmes sues FAMU for $400,000

Earl Holmes, former Rattler head football coach, wants FAMU to pay him for the more than two years that remained on his four-year contract prior to his termination.

Yesterday, Holmes filed a civil lawsuit against the university’s Board of Trustees. He is seeking $400,000 and additional damages.

“It was not an easy decision for him,” said Tim Jansen, Holmes’ attorney. “He’s a Baby Rattler. He was a Rattler. He’s a Hall of Fame Rattler. He’s an NFL player. He came back to coach FAMU at the request of the university, the president, Board of Trustees.”

Holmes stepped in as acting head coach for the final two games of the 2012 season after the resignation of former Head Coach Joe Taylor. He was later hired to the permanent position and received a four-year contract with a $200,000 annual salary. That employment agreement began on January 11, 2013 and had a scheduled expiration date of January 11, 2017.

Holmes had a 6-16 record as acting and head coach before former Athletic Director Kellen Winslow gave him a 60 day notice on October 28, 2014 that his employment would end effective January 20, 2015.

The contract between Holmes and FAMU is vague about how the coach’s win/loss record would affect the continuation of the agreement. It said that one of the coach’s duties was to “Administer, manage and lead the Sports Team and Program in such a manner as to allow the University’s Sports Team to effectively compete in the MEAC and the NCAA.”

Holmes’ team was showing improvement just before his firing, winning two out of its previous three games.

“To me it’s not personal,” Holmes said at a press conference yesterday. “It’s business.”

The lawsuit accuses the university of “breach of contract, breach of good faith and fair dealing, fraud in the inducement and negligent misrepresentation.”

FAMU officials have not released a public response to the lawsuit.

Read Holmes’ full contract here.