HUNTINGTON - Bob Pruett, Marshall's winningest football coach of all time, had distinct knowledge of a "jobs for props" program with booster Marshall Reynolds, as well as an instance of academic fraud, according to affidavits filed in connection with a former compliance director's ongoing lawsuit.

Those affidavits came from former players, Pruett's former strength and conditioning coach, B. David Ridpath - MU's former compliance director - and another former MU compliance official. They were filed in conjunction with Ridpath's lawsuit against the university, Pruett, former president Dan Angel, two other high-ranking former MU officials and another attorney.

Ridpath is suing over defamation of character among other allegations, in connection with the university's case before the NCAA Committee on Infractions. In 2001, the MU football program was placed on four years' probation, resulting in the loss of a substantial number of scholarships - a reduction of five overall for three years, and a reduction of five initial scholarships for the 2002, 2003 and 2004 recruiting classes.

Marshall also voluntarily gave up the recruitment of nonqualifers for several years. Not-so-voluntarily, the NCAA ordered the disassociation of Reynolds from the athletic department for five years.

Ridpath has accused university officials, including Pruett, of concealing a scheme to employ nonqualifiers at local businesses - particularly those owned by Reynolds - for $200 a day for an eight-hour day, or $25 an hour. He also accused university officials of covering up the scheme, of wrongly reassigning him in what was described in the NCAA infractions report as a "corrective action," and later threatening him against trying to clear his name. Ridpath also accuses attorney Richard Hilliard, an attorney who specializes in NCAA matters, of legal malpractice.

Ridpath claims his career aspirations were irreparably damaged.

The lawsuit has dragged on for six years since its initial filing. It was refiled in 2003 and delayed while a legal issue over the defendants' qualified immunity was decided by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. After the case returned to district court, the sides went through discovery proceedings and depositions until this summer.

The lawsuit is due to come to trial Oct. 21 in Huntington before Judge Chuck Chambers.

But in the meantime, the defendants have filed for summary judgment, or a complete and immediate dismissal of the case. Ridpath's attorneys filed a spirited rebuttal, attaching the five affidavits, and the defendants have until Friday to reply.

Among those who were deposed included former players Charles Tynes and Sam Goines, former strength and conditioning coach Mike Jenkins, and Kevin Klotz, a compliance official who once worked under Ridpath. All seemed to accuse Pruett and/or other officials such as former MU president Dan Angel of misconduct.

Through his attorney, Pruett says he welcomes a full-blown trial.

"Coach Pruett looks forward to the opportunity to fully litigate the case later this year, and will not comment further on the litigation," said Edward Kowal, a Huntington attorney. "Some of the alleged issues involve the investigation by the NCAA, which concluded almost seven years ago.

"The NCAA report is available to the public and outlines findings concerning several of the litigants. Pruett looks forward to a conclusion of the legal process, so all the issues and all the facts will be addressed."

Vaughn Sizemore, a Charleston attorney representing the other defendants, did not comment further except to say a response will be filed at the end of the week.

The defendants, particularly Pruett, may have to rebut some damning statements from those deposed.

Goines and Tynes, who played for the Thundering Herd in the late 1990s and early 2000s, both stated they were provided jobs at well above the prevailing wage while they sat out their freshman year.

"During my recruitment, at a meeting with Coach Pruett in his office, my parents and I were told that a job would be available for me when I came to Marshall," Tynes stated in his sworn affidavit. "The job that was arranged for me was janitorial work at Chapman Printing. I did the work and was paid 25.00 per hour/200 per 8-hour day."

HUNTINGTON - Bob Pruett, Marshall's winningest football coach of all time, had distinct knowledge of a "jobs for props" program with booster Marshall Reynolds, as well as an instance of academic fraud, according to affidavits filed in connection with a former compliance director's ongoing lawsuit.

Those affidavits came from former players, Pruett's former strength and conditioning coach, B. David Ridpath - MU's former compliance director - and another former MU compliance official. They were filed in conjunction with Ridpath's lawsuit against the university, Pruett, former president Dan Angel, two other high-ranking former MU officials and another attorney.

Ridpath is suing over defamation of character among other allegations, in connection with the university's case before the NCAA Committee on Infractions. In 2001, the MU football program was placed on four years' probation, resulting in the loss of a substantial number of scholarships - a reduction of five overall for three years, and a reduction of five initial scholarships for the 2002, 2003 and 2004 recruiting classes.

Marshall also voluntarily gave up the recruitment of nonqualifers for several years. Not-so-voluntarily, the NCAA ordered the disassociation of Reynolds from the athletic department for five years.

Ridpath has accused university officials, including Pruett, of concealing a scheme to employ nonqualifiers at local businesses - particularly those owned by Reynolds - for $200 a day for an eight-hour day, or $25 an hour. He also accused university officials of covering up the scheme, of wrongly reassigning him in what was described in the NCAA infractions report as a "corrective action," and later threatening him against trying to clear his name. Ridpath also accuses attorney Richard Hilliard, an attorney who specializes in NCAA matters, of legal malpractice.

Ridpath claims his career aspirations were irreparably damaged.

The lawsuit has dragged on for six years since its initial filing. It was refiled in 2003 and delayed while a legal issue over the defendants' qualified immunity was decided by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. After the case returned to district court, the sides went through discovery proceedings and depositions until this summer.

The lawsuit is due to come to trial Oct. 21 in Huntington before Judge Chuck Chambers.

But in the meantime, the defendants have filed for summary judgment, or a complete and immediate dismissal of the case. Ridpath's attorneys filed a spirited rebuttal, attaching the five affidavits, and the defendants have until Friday to reply.

Among those who were deposed included former players Charles Tynes and Sam Goines, former strength and conditioning coach Mike Jenkins, and Kevin Klotz, a compliance official who once worked under Ridpath. All seemed to accuse Pruett and/or other officials such as former MU president Dan Angel of misconduct.

Through his attorney, Pruett says he welcomes a full-blown trial.

"Coach Pruett looks forward to the opportunity to fully litigate the case later this year, and will not comment further on the litigation," said Edward Kowal, a Huntington attorney. "Some of the alleged issues involve the investigation by the NCAA, which concluded almost seven years ago.

"The NCAA report is available to the public and outlines findings concerning several of the litigants. Pruett looks forward to a conclusion of the legal process, so all the issues and all the facts will be addressed."

Vaughn Sizemore, a Charleston attorney representing the other defendants, did not comment further except to say a response will be filed at the end of the week.

The defendants, particularly Pruett, may have to rebut some damning statements from those deposed.

Goines and Tynes, who played for the Thundering Herd in the late 1990s and early 2000s, both stated they were provided jobs at well above the prevailing wage while they sat out their freshman year.

"During my recruitment, at a meeting with Coach Pruett in his office, my parents and I were told that a job would be available for me when I came to Marshall," Tynes stated in his sworn affidavit. "The job that was arranged for me was janitorial work at Chapman Printing. I did the work and was paid 25.00 per hour/200 per 8-hour day."

Goines said, "During my recruitment, I was told by MU staff members including Coach [Kevin] Kelly, Coach Pruett, they would have a 'job' for me to earn money to pay my tuition."

Nonqualifers are not allowed scholarship aid, and are not allowed to practice or work out with the team.

Both Tynes and Goines say that they were "made clear" by compliance officials that they were to report all employment to the compliance office. And both said that they felt heat from the football office to keep quiet about their jobs.

"I do not recall anyone specifically telling me not to talk to compliance, but we were told not to talk about the job, and specifically not talk about the job to other Chapman employees," Tynes said. "It was clear that the jobs were to be kept in the football family. I knew something was up with the jobs, because of the rate of pay for simple janitorial work."

Goines said, "We were instructed by the coaching staff that we should not talk about the job[s] or tell anyone about the job and keep it in the football family."

Both were suspended by the NCAA in the 2001 season - Tynes for one game and Goines for four. And in perhaps the most damning allegation in their affidavits, they said they signed false documents under duress to regain the right to play.

"In order to restore my eligibility, I was told to sign a statement indicating I had made $12.50 per hour. I was told that if I didn't sign, I could not play," Tynes said. "I knew the $12.50 figure was wrong, but signed anyway because I wanted to play."

Goines said much the same thing. Both Goines and Tynes' affidavits contained this same statement, verbatim: "Those statements were signed in Pruett's office at Pruett's direction."

Jenkins' affidavit addressed allegations of academic fraud tied to a volunteer assistant strength coach Bruce McAllister. Jenkins testified that a "study guide" - later determined to be an advance copy of McAllister's Physical Education 201 exam - was provided to players. Apparently, eligibility of key players was at stake.

"I was present in a football staff meeting, circa 1999, when Coach Pruett assured the staff that certain football athletes [specifically Danny Derricott] would be eligible for the fall 2000 season "because they were guaranteed to get A's in McAllister's class," Jenkins testified.

McAllister was hit with a "show cause" penalty. That's considered to be a career-buster - anybody who wanted to hire him in any athletic capacity had to appear before the infractions committee to justify the hiring.

Ridpath, currently employed as assistant professor of sports administration at Ohio University, made the following accusations involving Pruett:

Pruett resigned from Marshall in March 2005, in part because of health reasons. After sitting out three seasons, he has returned to coaching as defensive coordinator at Virginia.

The Gazette learned Monday that Pruett asked for a continuation of the trial until after football season, which Chambers denied. Oct. 21 falls on the Tuesday after the Cavaliers play a home game against North Carolina, and before a road game against Georgia Tech.

Other current and former MU officials could end up playing a role in the trial. For instance, Klotz said he has had conversations with David Reed, who monitored employment in the compliance department and later served as MU's compliance director. He quoted Reed as saying, "he was not going to jail over this," and "Ridpath is right and is going to win."

Reach Doug Smock at 348-5130 or dougsm...@wvgazette.com.