Former UCF defensive coordinator Ted Roof has filed a lawsuit against the UCF Athletics Association, claiming a breach of contract.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Orange County on Friday, claims that the school adjusted his termination compensation after head coach Gus Malzahn resigned. Roof is seeking over $50,000 in damages, according to the lawsuit.
Jamie Seh of WKMG-TV was the first to report the lawsuit.
Roof joined Malzahn’s coaching staff on Jan. 17, 2024, after serving as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma in 2022-23. He signed a two-year contract with the school that paid him a base salary of $400,000 in 2024 and $750,000 in 2025.
The contract was highly incentive-laden, with bonuses available if the team achieved certain milestones, such as winning a conference championship or playing in a bowl game.
Malzahn fired Roof on Oct. 28 following the Knights’ 37-24 loss to BYU and was presented a formal termination letter. He was replaced by Addison Williams, who served as co-defensive coordinator.
According to the lawsuit, Roof’s contract stipulated that in the event of termination, “… The amount due to Employee for remainder of term shall be the balance due of the base salary and bonuses earned but not yet paid, to be paid in accordance with normal Athletics payroll procedures, and shall be reduced by any subsequent employment compensation. … “
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The lawsuit states that Roof is entitled to the remainder of his base salary of $400,000 for the 2024 season and $750,000 for the 2025 season.
Malzahn resigned on Nov. 30, 33 days after Roof was terminated without cause.
According to the lawsuit, Roof received a letter from UCF on Dec. 6, notifying him that UCF was “retroactively applying the terms of Employment Agreement relating to the resignation Gus Malzahn as Head Football Coach.”
The provision that UCF was basing its argument on stated that: “In the event of the resignation of Gus Malzahn as Head Football Coach, this agreement may be terminated and the employee shall be entitled to receive 90 days of pay at the seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) annual rate, effective as of the resignation date of the Head Football Coach.”
The lawsuit states that the provision is meaningless because it only applies if the school still employed Roof at Malzahn’s resignation. The school’s claim is inapplicable because Roof’s termination occurred 39 days before that event.
Winter Park attorney Victor Chapman of Barrett, Chapman and Ruta, PA, represents Roof.
When contacted by the Sentinel, a UCF athletics spokesperson said UCFAA has not yet been served with a formal complaint and since it’s a legal issue, the department would have no comment at this time.
Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com
