by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Athletic directors Randy Spetman of Florida State University and Dr. Terry Don Phillips of Clemson University were in front of microphones before a crowded room of interested onlookers discussing hirings and firings among other things Friday, but it wasn’t for a press conference and the onlookers weren’t throngs of sports media.
The two, along with Toledo, Ohio-based employee benefits attorney Bennett Speyer of Eastman & and Smith and St. Louis-based sports law attorney Robert Lattinville of Stinson Morrison Hecker, took part in the morning panel discussion for Florida Coastal School of Law’s Sports Law Symposium.
The discussion, moderated by Coastal Law Center for Law and Sports Director Rick Karcher, centered around the issues that arise in negotiating and structuring of contracts from beginning to end — including compensation, termination, tax ramifications and buyout classes — for college coaches.
Answers on the multiple topics varied with perspectives coming from both the university level (Spetman and Phillips) and coaches interests (Speyer and Lattinville) and offered valuable and real world insight on the contractual process for the more than 50 students and attorneys in attendance, said Karcher.
“It’s great for students to be able to come in and hear about the issues from people out there involved in it,” said Karcher. “For local attorneys, they’re able to learn about what’s going on out there.”
Coastal Law Sports Law Society President Stu Herman agreed and attributed the large turnout to the caliber of the panelists. Herman said the organization had been planning the symposium — the largest at the school in some time — and believed the event will further the recognition of school’s sports law program.
While the attendees weren’t pressing media members, the questions coming from the law students during the question-and-answer session were topical and pinpoint.
“There were some good questions,” said Phillips, smiling.
Like some of the other panelists, Phillips teaches sports law courses and noted the symposium was a chance to get back in front of students while seeing friends Karcher and Coastal Law Dean Peter Goplerud.
For another panelist, it was a refreshing change of pace.
“I have not been in this type of setting for a long time,” said Speyer. “It was great to be able to get back within an academic setting in front of students.”
The afternoon session of the symposium focused on ethnic and gender issues in NCAA hirings and was moderated by Roger Groves, Coastal Law associate law professor. Featured panelists included N. Jeremi Duru, associate professor of law at Temple University, Beasley School of Law; Kristen Galles, civil rights attorney and Title IX expert; and Floyd Keith, executive director of Black Coaches and Administrators.
Both panel discussions will be available next week via podcast on Coastal Law’s Web site, www.fcsl.edu.
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