Former OSU official challenges O'Brien over firing incident

Former Athletic Director Andy Geiger testified at the trial.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- A former Ohio State official challenged Jim O'Brien's reasoning for why he shouldn't have been fired, testifying Tuesday that the basketball coach acknowledged a $6,000 loan to a recruit was a rules violation.
O'Brien contends the loan of his own money was not an NCAA violation because he knew Aleksandar Radojevic, a 7-foot-3 prospect from Serbia, already lost his amateur status by playing professionally.
O'Brien, who coached the Buckeyes to a 133-88 record that included two Big Ten titles and a conference tournament title over seven seasons, is suing in the Ohio Court of Claims for $3.5 million in back pay and benefits.
The judgment could grow by millions if interest and other damages are awarded.
Former athletic director Andy Geiger testified that O'Brien told him in April 2004, less than two months before he was fired, that he wanted Geiger to know about the loan.
Admitted violation
"First of all, he said he committed a violation," Geiger said. "Secondly, he gave the money to a prospective student-athlete."
O'Brien disputes telling Geiger the loan was a violation. He testified Monday that he gave the money to Radojevic because his father was dying and the family had no money for medicine or the funeral.
Geiger said he was most bothered by O'Brien waiting more than five years to reveal the payment. O'Brien said he did so because no one would believe he gave the money for humanitarian reasons.
Radojevic never enrolled at Ohio State and was declared ineligible by the NCAA for accepting money from a team in his homeland. He later was selected in the first round of the 1999 NBA draft.
Still a fireable offense
Ohio State said it was still a violation -- and fireable offense -- because Radojevic had not been officially declared ineligible to play college basketball at the time of the loan.
Geiger said he was angry Ohio State appealed the NCAA's decision finding Radojevic ineligible, and O'Brien still did not disclose the loan.
O'Brien's contract allowed for him to be suspended until the NCAA ruled after an investigation. But Geiger said the option was not considered seriously because the university thought the loan was such a blatant violation.
The trial is separate from the NCAA's investigation into violations committed while O'Brien was coaching the Buckeyes.
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