LOGAN — After being terminated with no warning last July “for severe cause,” former Utah State University deputy athletic director Jerry Bovee filed 11 causes of action against his former employer Tuesday afternoon in U.S. Federal Court.
Bovee filed the lawsuit against USU for retaliation, defamation, false light, breach of contract and several other causes of action that allege USU President Elizabeth Cantwell, Athletic Director Diana Sabau and head of Legal Affairs Mica McKinney “intentionally retaliated” against Bovee and “abused any privileges that may otherwise be available as government employees because they acted with willful misconduct.”
The lawsuit alleges that the Office of Equity failed to follow up and never investigated the incident USU claims was the reason for its surprise terminations in July 2024 of its head football coach, deputy athletic director and two other athletic staff members. The four were all dismissed by USU over alleged failures to report an April 2023 incident of domestic violence as required by USU policy. All have maintained no wrongdoing in reporting the situation.
Utah State University’s 17th President, Elizabeth R. Cantwell, is specifically named in the federal lawsuit. Cantwell is the current president of USU, but will be leaving soon. On Feb 6, it was announced that Washington State University had hired Cantwell to serve as its next president beginning April 1.
In December, Bovee filed a separate lawsuit in state court, claiming damages of more than $300,000 and asking for a jury trial. The trial date for that civil lawsuit has been set for 2026. That lawsuit alleged USU violated state law and its own university policy when it terminated him in July of 2024.
This is the first federal lawsuit and the third lawsuit filed in court against USU since November by two of its former athletic department employees.
On Nov. 19, attorneys for former USU head football coach Blake Anderson filed the $15 million lawsuit against USU.
This a breaking news story and more updates will be added as they become available. Check back for updates.