The North Carolina Court of Appeals refused to reinstate Frazier’s case, saying he failed to exhaust his administrative remedies after the university permanently benched him in 2013.
Frazier’s five-year coaching contract began in January 2011 and was to run through the end of 2015. A provision empowered NCCU to terminate him for “just cause,” including misconduct or criminal behavior that would “tend to bring public disrespect, contempt or ridicule upon” the university.
In May 2012, police charged him with misdemeanor assault of his wife, and a protective order was issued against him.
NCCU then placed Frazier on administrative leave but reinstated him after the criminal case was settled. However, the chancellor issued a formal reprimand and warned him that any further incident could lead to more severe discipline, including termination.
In August 2013, Frazier was arrested for violating the protective order and initially suspended with full pay. A few days later the athletic director sent him a termination letter.
The chancellor upheld the firing, citing Frazier’s “blatant disregard” for university directives that is inconsistent with his position as coach, “a position charged with modeling behavior for students.”
