Joe Yukica
Encyclopedia
Joe Yukica is a former American football
player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of New Hampshire
(1966–1967), Boston College
(1968–1977), and Dartmouth College
(1978–1986), compiling a career college football
record of 111–93–4. Yukica played at Pennsylvania State University
from 1949 to 1952.
for breach of contract. Based on various procedural irregularities regarding Yukica's dismissal, Judge Walter Murphy, a former football coach, issued two temporary injunctions against Leland and Dartmouth College. With the case gaining increased press, partly due to testimony at preliminary hearings by coach Joe Paterno
of Pennsylvania State University
, and college football recruitment already under way, Dartmouth settled out of court and Yukica went on to coach Dartmouth for another season before resigning.
Although the case never went to trial, Yukica v. Leland has been hailed by the American Football Coaches Association and others as setting an important precedent in sports law
. The case also affected how coaching contracts were written, particularly at the college level.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
(1966–1967), Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
(1968–1977), and Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
(1978–1986), compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 111–93–4. Yukica played at Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
from 1949 to 1952.
Lawsuit
Yukica was terminated by Edward Leland, the athletic director for Dartmouth College, after back-to-back disappointing seasons in 1984 and 1985. Although Yukica was offered standard compensation for the remaining 18 months of his contract, he instead chose to file suit against Leland in New Hampshire Superior CourtNew Hampshire Superior Court
The New Hampshire Superior Court is the statewide court of general jurisdiction which provides jury trials in civil and criminal cases. There are 11 locations of the Superior Court, one for each county and two in Hillsborough County.-Jurisdiction:...
for breach of contract. Based on various procedural irregularities regarding Yukica's dismissal, Judge Walter Murphy, a former football coach, issued two temporary injunctions against Leland and Dartmouth College. With the case gaining increased press, partly due to testimony at preliminary hearings by coach Joe Paterno
Joe Paterno
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with...
of Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, and college football recruitment already under way, Dartmouth settled out of court and Yukica went on to coach Dartmouth for another season before resigning.
Although the case never went to trial, Yukica v. Leland has been hailed by the American Football Coaches Association and others as setting an important precedent in sports law
Sports law
Sports law is an umbrella term used to describe the legal issues at work in the world of both amateur and professional sports. Sports law overlaps substantially with labor law, contract law, competition or antitrust law, and tort law. Issues like defamation and privacy rights are also an integral...
. The case also affected how coaching contracts were written, particularly at the college level.