Lawsuit claims FAU's Kiffin duped ex-receiver with promise of job

FAU, state of Florida listed as co-defendants in Antonio 'A.C.' Carter's lawsuit

A lawsuit alleges that Lane Kiffin promised a former Alabama wide receiver a job on his coaching staff, believing he could help land a coveted recruit.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – A former wide receiver at the University of Alabama is suing new Florida Atlantic University football coach Lane Kiffin, claiming the former Crimson Tide assistant promised him a job on the coaching staff and later reneged on the deal.

Antonio "A.C." Carter filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Shelby County, Alabama. Kiffin, FAU and the state of Florida are listed as co-defendants in the lawsuit.

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According to the complaint, Kiffin offered Carter a position on the FAU coaching staff, knowing that Carter had a "family friendship with a coveted football prospect" who Kiffin believed Carter could get to commit to the Owls.

Carter claims that he signed a one-year contract as assistant wide receivers coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach a week before National Signing Day.

"Such offer was made without any contingencies," the lawsuit claims.

File: Carter vs Kiffin lawsuit

However, Kiffin and FAU revoked Carter's employment agreement after National Signing Day, the lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit claims that Carter was hired seven days before National Signing Day at a salary of $40,000, including up to $4,000 for relocation expenses and eligibility for coaching bonuses.

Carter claims that he and his wife quit their jobs and were preparing to move to Boca Raton after Kiffin assured him that the deal was "done."

According to the lawsuit, Carter was assigned by Kiffin to recruit a "highly-touted" junior college prospect from Carter's hometown of Tallahassee.

Alabama's Antonio Carter carries the ball as he is tackled by Florida's Marquand Manuel in Gainsville during a 1999 game. The Crimson Tide defeated the Gators 41-40.

Although the lawsuit doesn't name the recruit, it refers to the player as having signed a letter of intent to play football at the University of Florida, but eligibility concerns led to him attending a junior college.

Carter claims that FAU contacted him Feb. 3 -- two days after National Signing Day -- and informed him that he wouldn't be hired because of two misdemeanor criminal charges in his past. Carter claims that, despite providing documentation showing the resolution of the "minor criminal charges," FAU never replied to his email, and FAU athletic director Patrick Chun refused to speak with Carter on the phone or in person.

The lawsuit claims that FAU has failed to pay Carter for the hours he worked on the school's behalf, saying that Kiffin, FAU and the state of Florida "have been unjustly enriched from the unpaid work."

It also alleges that Kiffin orchestrated a "bait and switch" scheme to secure the commitment of a coveted prospect at Carter's expense.

Local10.com sent an email to FAU seeking comment about the lawsuit.

Carter was a three-year starter for the Crimson Tide before suffering a career-ending leg injury. He caught 106 passes for 1,294 yards from 1998-2000.

Kiffin was offensive coordinator at Alabama before taking the FAU job in December.

The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and unspecified damages for Carter's "time, services and expenses associated with his work."


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.