Television station KEZI reported Wednesday that the University of Oregon is suing former Ducks running backs coach Carlos Locklyn for breach of contract.
Locklyn left the Ducks in the spring of 2024 to become running backs coach at Ohio State, where he coached Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson to 1,000-yard seasons as the Buckeyes won the national championship.
The $400,000 suit alleges that Locklyn signed a two-year contract to coach the Oregon RBs in February 2024, only to breech the signed agreement by leaving the position two months later.
Locklyn reportedly sent a personal check to the athletic department in May for $200,000, half the amount, which Oregon mailed back to him and rejected.
LOCKLYN ADDRESSED THE SOFT BATCH COOKIE QUOTE AHABHAHHAH https://t.co/PYtDuZudek pic.twitter.com/RHijTOvyai
— reid, spring ball enthusiast (@pac10reid) April 10, 2024
Dan Lanning originally hired the former Western Kentucky assistant in January 2022 and he coached at Oregon for two seasons. In 2022 the Ducks finished third in the conference in rushing at 216 yards per game. In 2023, the team went 12-2 with a win in the Liberty Bowl.
Locklyn demonstrated an eye for talent. He brought in Bucky Irving from Minnesota, Whittington from his previous job at WKU and molded them into an effective rotation that cranked out 185 yards a game in his second year.
Locklyn proved to be an effective recruiter, flipping Jordan James from Georgia in his first class, landing Da'Juan Riggs in 2024.
Regarding the suit, his attorney issued a statement stating that his client
“lawfully terminated his employment agreement with the University of Oregon and promptly delivered a check fully satisfying any possible obligation under the buy-out provision.”
Regardless of the verdict of juries, the lawsuit adds another layer of spice to the growing rivalry between Oregon and Ohio State.
The two teams split two meetings last season, the Ducks edging tOSU in the regular season 32-31 when Will Howard made an ill-fated slide as time ran out. The rematch was another story with the Buckeyes rolling to a 34-8 halftime lead and a dominating victory.
Locklyn made $300,000 as an Oregon assistant. His Ohio State salary more than doubled that to $650,000.
When he made his surprising announcement to leave during spring practice in 2024, he expressed some dissatisfaction, suggesting a lack of respect from Lanning.
"I prefer to be called Lock. I know coach Lanning would call me — I thought maybe trying to take a shot at me every now and then while I was out there at Oregon — he called me Carlos. But I prefer to be called coach Lock."
Fans sent him batches of cookies in response, but as always, winning is the best revenge. Locklyn has a national championship ring. Monday, he got to the White House.