Texas Coach, OK State Go To Court

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University of Texas offensive coordinator Joe Wickline responded to a breach of contract lawsuit filed by his previous employer, Oklahoma State, by filing a suit of his own.

Wickline’s countersuit accuses OSU of not fully releasing him from a contract when he left to join Charlie Strong’s staff at Texas. Oklahoma State wants Wickline to pay the balance of his contract, $593,478, for leaving the job to take a “lateral” position with Texas. Oklahoma State alleges that because Wickline is not the primary play-caller for the Longhorns, he wrongly opted out of his deal.

The teams play in the Big 12, and Oklahoma State hosts Texas on Nov. 15 in Stillwater.

The Austin American Statesman reported that quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson, also hired by Strong in January, is the Longhorns’ play-caller.

Oklahoma State claims a letter was sent to Wickline in March when Strong made public comments about shared play-calling duties. In part, it read “in reality it appears you unilaterally and voluntarily terminated the contract to make a lateral move and as such a waiver of the liquidated damages clause of the contract is not triggered.”

Wickline’s countersuit alleges the suit is “baseless and its sole purpose is to interfere with coach Wickline’s ongoing employment relationship with UT.