Texas Tech fires football Coach Mike Leach

LUBBOCK, Texas, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Texas Tech University Wednesday fired football Coach Mike Leach following allegations he abused an injured player.

School officials gave Leach's attorney a letter of termination as the two sides met at a Lubbock, Texas, courtroom where attorney Ted Liggett was seeking an injunction to allow Leach to coach the Red Raiders in Saturday's bowl game.

Leach was suspended Monday by Texas Tech after an injured player and the player's family alleged mistreatment. Texas Tech officials barred Leach from coaching the team in Saturday's Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, putting defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill in control of the team.

Adam James, a sophomore receiver, said Leach ordered him to confined places after James was diagnosed with a concussion. Leach, through his attorney, said he would never intentionally harm or endanger a player and that he hadn't violated university rules.

Leach, 48, had coached the Red Raiders since 2000, with the team earning a bowl invitation after each of his 10 seasons. Texas Tech was 84-43 under Leach, with 2008's 11-2 record the best of his tenure. The Red Raiders were 8-4 this year.

The coach had a contract, signed last February, through 2013 that was worth $12.7 million. If Leach was still the coach at Texas Tech Thursday, he would have earned a year-end bonus of $800,000.