Neuheisel wins large settlement in lawsuit against NCAA, UW

KENT, Wash. -- Fired football coach Rick Neuheisel will receive at least $4.5 million in a settlement Monday of his lawsuit against the NCAA and the University of Washington, claiming victory in his 21-month legal battle.

"I feel fully vindicated," Neuheisel said. "Obviously, they're going to have their stories, too, but I feel like this is the best scenario. Nobody's nose gets bloodied."

The settlement was announced by Superior Court Judge Michael Spearman after five weeks of testimony, just as jurors were set to hear closing statements.

It capped a lengthy and bitter fight that started with Neuheisel's firing in June 2003 and publicly exposed the NCAA and university to embarrassing administrative gaffes. Washington's once-proud football program has fallen apart since the scandal. The Huskies went 1-10 last year.

"I'm elated that it's over. It's been 21 months and it's been hard," said Neuheisel, who signed autographs for jurors after the trial.

Neuheisel will receive cash payments of $2.5 million from the NCAA and $500,000 from the university. Additionally, the university agreed not to seek repayment of a $1.5 million loan.

Rick Neuheisel accepts congratulations after the announcement of a settlement. (AP)

"The legal system works," he added. "The players got together and found an amicable resolution. I'm thrilled to be moving on."

Neuheisel, now the quarterbacks coach for the Baltimore Ravens, had accused the university of wrongfully terminating his contract and the NCAA of encouraging Washington administrators to fire him.

The university had argued that he had signed a contract that allowed for his firing for acts of dishonesty. School officials have said Neuheisel was fired for gambling on an NCAA basketball pool and failing to be forthright about it with NCAA investigators.

Last week, Spearman left open the possibility of declaring a mistrial because the NCAA had failed to provide Neuheisel's legal team with an updated version of its bylaws during discovery. In a statement Monday, the university said it agreed to settle because a mistrial could be declared.

The updated bylaws seem to bolster Neuheisel's argument that NCAA investigators acted improperly when they failed to tell him in advance that they planned to question him regarding his gambling.

NCAA president Myles Brand said he believed the association acted properly.