In this episode of Hiring to Firing, hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter are joined by Josh Gelfand, Troutman Pepper Locke partner from the firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice group, to break down the nuts and bolts of executive employment agreements through the lens of high-profile college football coach departures. Using real-world examples — including Jimbo Fisher’s record-breaking $76 million buyout from Texas A&M, Mel Tucker’s for-cause termination at Michigan State following misconduct allegations, and LSU’s ultimately unsuccessful attempt to fire Brian Kelly for cause — the conversation unpacks how provisions like termination for cause, good reason resignations, severance structures, and equity arrangements play out when the stakes are highest. Tune in to gain practical insights into how these contract terms are negotiated, drafted, and disputed, and what lessons everyday executive agreements can draw from the headlines.
