Dartmouth Ordered to Reinstate Yukica

A New Hampshire judge ruled Friday that Dartmouth College violated its own rules by firing Joe Yukica and must reinstate him as head football coach.

Stressing that his ruling applied only to Yukica’s contract, Superior Judge Walter Murphy said Dartmouth Athletic Director Ted Leland could not dismiss Yukica without obtaining formal approval from the college’s athletic board.

Leland fired Yukica with 1 1/2 years remaining on his contract.

Murphy said his temporary restraining order would become final Feb. 20, 1986, unless Leland could prove to the court he had the authority to fire Yukica or there was a formal vote by the 16-member athletic council approving Yukica’s dismissal.

Attorney Thomas Rath, representing Dartmouth, said the school’s athletic officials were “surprised and disappointed” by the ruling, adding that council approval of Yukica’s firing would be sought by Leland.

Rath said council approval was a “procedural hurdle.” However, Yukica’s lawyer, David Nixon, said his client would be assured the head coaching position through the 1986 season because the college’s athletic bylaws require one-year notice to fire a coach.