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Marty Schottenheimer Sues UFL Founder

(CN) - Longtime NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer claims in court that United Football League founder Bill Hambrecht owes him $2.3 million for coaching and managing.

Schottenheimer sued Hambrecht in San Francisco Superior Court.

He claims that UFL founder Hambrecht guaranteed him the money to entice him to join the new league as the general manager and coach for Team Virginia.

The UFL, which consists of four teams, began in 2009.

"After a period of negotiation, Schottenheimer expressed a willingness to serve as the head coach and general manager of the team," the complaint states. "However, because the financial stability and long-term survival of the UFL were unclear, Schottenheimer wanted assurances that the payments owed to him by Team Virginia under his employment contract would be personally guaranteed by Hambrecht. Hambrecht agreed to personally guarantee Team Virginia's payments to Schottenheimer during the first year of his employment."

Schottenheimer's Virginia team won the UFL championship in 2011, so Schottenheimer says he was owed $1.1 million plus $150,000 in bonuses as of Sept. 12.

Schottenheimer also claims he incurred $100,000 in expenses during his first year at Virginia.

Schottenheimer says the team and Hambrecht refuse to pay.

"Team Virginia acknowledged that Schottenheimer was due the sums demanded for unpaid salary, bonuses and expense reimbursement, but Team Virginia informed Schottenheimer that it was financially unable to perform its obligations under the Employment Agreement," the complaint states. "Indeed, as of August 2012, the UFL informed Schottenheimer that it was unclear whether the UFL would continue to exist as an operating football league, due [to] its distressed financial situation. In August 2012, Schottenheimer again demanded that Team Virginia pay his unpaid salary, bonus compensation and expense reimbursement. Team Virginia failed to pay Schottenheimer any of the sums due following this additional demand."

Schottenheimer seeks damages for breach of contract. He is represented by Cliff Palefsky, with McGuinn, Hillsman & Palefsky.

Schottenheimer amassed a 200-126-1 regular season record in 21 years of coaching in the NFL. His NFL teams were 5-13 in the playoffs. Schottenheimer led three teams to the AFC Championship Game.

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