Former athletic director Mario Moccia is suing New Mexico State University, which announced Moccia's firing Jan. 2. following several controversies, including a deadly shooting and a hazing scandal that rocked the men's basketball program.
As reported by CBS affiliate KRQE in Albuquerque, NMSU fired head coach Greg Heiar, but a report from the New Mexico Department of Justice found extensive problems in leadership and locker room culture throughout the athletic program.
As one of his first acts as NMSU president, Valerio Ferme fired Moccia with cause, which denied Moccia the buyout in his contract. In the lawsuit, Moccia refutes Ferme’s claim that he did not do enough to address the hazing, and claims he acted promptly and followed university policies.
“The university ignored the facts and acted out of political expediency rather than abiding by Mr. Moccia’s contract,” Moccia's attorney, Nicholas Hart, said in a statement.
An NMSU spokesperson told KRQE that the lawsuit has yet to be served to the university and cannot comment.
