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UCF coach George O’Leary accused of racist remarks in lawsuit

By Cameron La Fontaine

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Former University of Central Florida defensive coordinator Paul Ferraro has filed a breach of contract lawsuit that accuses UCF head football coach George O’Leary of using racist remarks. According to USA TODAY, the suit was filed in circuit court on Friday.

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The suit outlines allegations of shocking racial remarks against African-Americans. According to the suit, O’Leary used a derogatory word for African-Americans and called the NFL “one big ‘Ru-Ru’ tribe.” The suit also alleges O’Leary once advised coaches to check African-American players “to make sure their gums are blue, because they are bigger, faster and stronger than (African-American players) with red gums.”

While these allegations have surfaced, UCF Vice President for USA Today said that the claims are without merit because, “UCF is an inclusive and diverse institution” and their “investigation” found nothing.

Ferraro joined the team as a defensive coordinator in December but left the program before spring practice. The suit alleges he was fired without cause. The school maintains he resigned. The suit asks for damages in excess of $15,000, including unpaid wages. Ferraro signed a two-year contract for $220,000 annually in December.

“UCF immediately investigated the allegations Mr. Ferraro made when he abruptly abandoned his job,” Heston emailed USA TODAY. “The university’s Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action office found the allegations to be untrue.

“None of the individuals alleged to have been the subject of, or to have overheard, these supposed statements corroborated Mr. Ferraro’s claims. In fact, until seeking compensation after abandoning his job, it does not appear he ever discussed this with anyone at UCF.”

While it’s a solid argument, you have to wonder why Ferraro would go out of his way to file this suit and ask for just $15,000. Going further, Ferraro claimed in the suit that O’Leary created a “work environment that was permeated by bullying, threatening behavior, and repeated discriminatory epithets” and also refereed to Ferraro as “a ‘Guinea.”

According to the suit, on Feb. 25, Ferraro sent an email to the coaching staff including O’Leary and other assistants that said, “No longer will I put up with your constant verbal abuse of both our coaching and support staff,” the email said in part, according to a copy attached to the suit. “Threatening coaches on a regular basis with their jobs and racial slurs mixed in to make a point is wrong.”

In response to the email, UCF athletic director Todd Stansbury sent a letter to Ferraro the next day writing: “As your actions show that you have no intent to return to your post as Defensive Coordinator of the Football program, we are accepting these actions as your 14 day notice of resignation from UCF Athletics.”

Not a very concerned response from an athletic director.

Ferraro left for what O’Leary termed “personal reasons” before UCF had started spring drills. “I wish him well,” said O’Leary, who later promoted Summers to the permanent position as the Knights’ defensive coordinator. Ferraro says he never resigned.

While UCF athletics clearly didn’t take this matter seriously when Ferraro brought it to their attention, the legal system now will, which could mean consequences for O’Leary and UCF.

Here’s a statement from Ferraro’s attorney Nathan McCoy to USA TODAY in an email:

"“We respect what UCF means to the Central Florida community and we applaud UCF’s accomplishments both on and off the football field. However, coach Ferraro deserves representation like anyone else who has been wronged. We are simply acting as his voice and intend no harm toward UCF or UCFAA. In fact our client made numerous attempts to resolve this pre-suit and out of the public eye.“That said, this is a case about a man doing what is right: standing up for himself and others by objecting to unlawful conduct. In retaliation, UCFAA treated his objection as a resignation despite his continued insistence to the contrary. Even after being unlawfully terminated, our client willingly participated in an investigation, trusting that it would lead to an improved work environment for his co-workers and reinstatement of his employment. Nonetheless, our client remains unemployed while UCFAA continues to refuse to honor the terms of its agreement with coach Ferraro.”"

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