HispanicBusiness

Robb Akey, who was fired as the Vandals' football coach with four games left in the 2012 season, has filed suit against the University of Idaho and other parties.

Akey confirmed to the Tribune on Tuesday evening that he has filed suit, but didn't specify what grounds the case is based on.

"It is going on and we're looking forward to a good resolution," Akey said, "and I probably ought to leave it at that."

UI athletic director Rob Spear declined comment, saying he can't speak on pending litigation.

On the Idaho Repository website, the information on Akey's case lists the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho, the Idaho State Board Of Education and the University of Idaho as defendants. It says the case was filed April 16.

Akey coached the Vandals for five-plus years and was fired on Oct. 21, one day after a 70-28 loss to Louisiana Tech that dropped his UI record to 20-50.

Since Akey didn't complete the season, he missed out on $105,000 media payment of his roughly $375,000 salary, the Spokesman-Review reported following his firing.

"If I had coached four more games, they would have had to pay me a third of my salary," Akey told the Spokane newspaper at the time. "You lose a third of your salary it affects your ability to feed your family, so it's a little disappointing."

As long as he doesn't have a job, Akey will be paid his base salary of $165,796 through the end of 2014.

Akey said Tuesday he plans on returning to coaching, but "I don't see it being this season."

"I'm chasing two young'ens around, and that's been fun," he said, referring to his sons, Jack and Daniel. "I got to watch every one of their basketball games. I've never been able to do that -- ever.

"I'm going to coach again, yeah," Akey added. "I'll get back in when things start shifting around toward the end of next season. Hell, you don't even have to wait until the end of the season any more -- you never know."

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