Former New England Patriots assistant coach Bret Bielema’s contentious litigation with his former college employer, The Razorback Foundation, the fundraising arm of the University of Arkansas athletics, has spilled over into the professional ranks.
According to court papers filed by Bielema, the Foundation subpoenaed Bill Belichick, head coach of the Patriots, the team that employed Bielema in 2018 and 2019 after he was fired from his head coaching position at Arkansas. Under terms of his nearly $12 million buyout, Bielema was obligated to make reasonable efforts to find employment that would mitigate or offset the amount.
Bielema took the job with the Patriots as a consultant to Belichick for ultimately $125,000 annually, meaning none of the buyout was reduced because his pay was less than the minimum the contract set as shielded from the offset. Bielema in 2019 became the Patriots’ defensive line coach, and he is currently the New York…
