Former WVU Football Administrator Claims His Age Caused Firing

A former West Virginia University athletics employee who asserts he was fired because of his age will file an amended complaint following a recent court hearing.

Monongalia County residents Mike Kerin and his wife, Kathy, filed the lawsuit this summer in Kanawha Circuit Court against the WVU Board of Governors, WVU President Jim Clements, head football Coach Dana Holgorson and Athletic Director Oliver Luck.

The Kerins and WVU defendants appeared in court Thursday on a motion to dismiss. The court allowed the Kerins to amend their complaint.

Kerin, who worked for WVU for more than 30 years, said he was fired in August 2011. He asserts the athletic department replaced older employees with younger ones.

Many of the younger employees didn't meet minimum qualifications, he claims.

According to the school's website, Kerin, a Colorado native, was responsible for all administrative operations of the school's football program. As part of his job, he handled daily schedules, travel schedules, coaches clinics, recruiting, scholarship disbursement and other functions.

The site states he spent his first eight years as equipment manager and later moved to the positions of administrative assistant and director of football operations.

In his lawsuit, Kerin sought lost wages, benefits, back pay, front pay, punitive damages and damages for indignity, embarrassment, humiliation and loss of consortium.

Contact writer Andrea Lannom at [email protected] or 304-348-5148. Follow her at www.twitter.com/AndreaLannom.