Former Ohio State coach gets $2.25 M

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Former Ohio State University men's basketball coach Jim O'Brien was awarded $2.25 million in damages in his breach of contract suit against the university.

O'Brien was fired in June 2004 after admitting to recruiting violations. O'Brien said he loaned $6,000 to the mother of a potential recruit to pay expenses after the death of her husband in 1998. He still had several years left on his contract and sued for $3.6 million.

An Ohio Court of Claims judge ruled Ohio State had fired O'Brien unjustifiably and awarded him $2.25 million, the Columbus Dispatch reported.

The general counsel for the university said the school had a right to fire O'Brien and that the monetary award likely would be appealed.