Former Kent State football coach Kenni Burns has filed a lawsuit against the university, its board of trustees and other officials, including President Todd Diacon. Burns’ lawsuit accuses defendants of wrongful termination, breach of contract and defamation, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.
Burns, who was fired in April 2025, alleges in the lawsuit that the school’s firing of him was a part of a “malicious scheme” to save the university money.
KSU’s former football head coach was fired after an investigation found multiple violations on his university-issued credit card and alleged that Burns improperly took loans from a Kent State booster. In his two seasons as coach, the Flashes went 1-23.
Burns’ lawsuit states the scheme began in 2024 when Burns received a contract extension after a 1-11 record in the 2023 season. The extension changed an important condition of the original contract, which stated that Burns’ payout would be a percentage of the remaining years of base salary. In the new contract, it would be a percentage of the current year’s salary.
The plaintiff and his agent never discussed the details of the amendment, according to the complaint and signed the extension on the understanding that it would be unchanged. When they found out the details, the lawsuit states that Burns and his attorney went to athletic director Randale Richmond, who said it would be changed, but then told the attorney the school would not alter terms when asked.
He did acknowledge a relationship between him and Laziza owner Mike Awad in the suit, saying that he accepted loans from and paid Awad back with interest and that the athletic department was aware of the arrangement saying that other Kent State employees had similar arrangements with Awad.
The university said in its termination that the relationship was a violation of the school’s conflict of interest policy.
Burns also acknowledged sending Kent State a check for $7,000 to cover a portion of P-Card expenses
A Kent State spokesperson told ESPN that the university does not comment on pending litigation.
Stone O’Bryant is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].
