Case closed

Clarkson settles suit with deposed hockey coach

CANTON, N.Y. (AP) -- A trial ended abruptly Wednesday with Clarkson University's announcement that it had reached a settlement with its former men's hockey coach, who was fired last November for an on-ice altercation with a player during practice.

The school in northern New York said terms of the settlement with Mark Morris would remain confidential. Morris' attorney, John Piasecki, was not immediately available for comment.

"The university is satisfied that this situation is now behind us and grateful that we can all move forward. Clarkson wishes Mr. Morris the best in the future," the university said in a release.

Morris was fired Nov. 15 for an altercation Nov. 2 involving Zachary Schwan, a junior reserve forward. Morris responded with a $15 million breach-of-contract lawsuit.

Over 14 seasons he had coached the team to one of the best records in Division I hockey.

A six-person jury was seated Monday to hear the case. In testimony Tuesday, Morris said the university took advantage of the incident to fire him as a way to reduce costs for the hockey program.

Morris testified that team members were angry with him over disciplinary decisions he had made in the weeks leading up the confrontation with Schwan.

The former coach said he was sorry for his conduct during the incident, in which he said Schwan became overly aggressive during a scrimmage between coaches and players not participating in that night's game against rival St. Lawrence University.

According to Morris, Schwan hit him from behind twice during the scrimmage, an illegal play in hockey. The second time, Morris said he "instinctively" reached out to Schwan with his stick, knocking the player's helmet off. Morris said he used his stick to pull Schwan forward to scream at him.

Morris said he declined to participate in the university's follow-up investigation after deciding it was a witch hunt and that university officials already had decided to fire him.

Clarkson attorney James McGowan presented a different scenario.

He told jurors that Morris "lost it" and came at Schwan from behind, put his stick under his helmet, manhandled him and screamed at him so the player thought he had been thrown off the team.

McGowan said the encounter left Schwan with marks on his neck. Morris responded that hockey was a physical sport and players often left the ice with bumps and bruises after a game.

McGowan said Morris contributed to his own firing by refusing to cooperate with the school's internal investigation.

Morris coached for 14 seasons at Clarkson, located in Potsdam, 126 miles north of Syracuse. Its team has the top winning percentage in men's hockey among Division I schools. He signed a six-year contract in February 2000.

He compiled a record of 306-153-42 and Clarkson made nine appearances in the NCAA tournament, including a Frozen Four berth in 1991.

Morris was the ECAC coach of the year in 1991 and 2001 and a finalist for national coach of the year in 1999.

 

Related information

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video