Ex-Titan Official Disputes Testimony : Trial: DiTolla says administrators didn’t want to keep Huffman as coach.

A former Cal State Fullerton athletic official Thursday disputed key university testimony in the wrongful-termination trial of former Titan volleyball Coach Jim Huffman.

Steve DiTolla, former associate athletic director, testified that Athletic Director Bill Shumard said during a Dec. 10, 1991, meeting that “while we have concerns, we are going to renew (Huffman’s) contract.”

But Shumard, presented Wednesday in Orange County Superior Court with that version of events, said: “That’s not the truth at all.”

University attorney Kevin Gerry has maintained throughout the 1 1/2-week-old trial that the decision to terminate Huffman because of substandard performance was made in the fall of 1991.

Shumard testified that when a decision was subsequently made to drop volleyball because of financial problems, he felt it would be more “humane” to terminate Huffman along with the sport.

“We felt (Huffman) would have a better opportunity to move on to another job if the program was dropped and he was dropped along with it,” Shumard said. “We didn’t want to add insult to injury.”

Huffman’s contract expired on Dec. 31, 1991, but he continued working through January under an implied contract. Fullerton announced it was discontinuing volleyball on Jan. 28, 1992.

Huffman and his players filed suit, claiming the move violated state sex discrimination laws, and won a preliminary injunction blocking the school’s move that March. Huffman was fired March 23, 1992, one working day after the court order was issued.

Huffman claims he was terminated not because of substandard performance but because he spoke out against the school’s poor gender-equity record and initiated successful legal proceedings, which resulted in negative publicity to administrators and the school. His attorneys must prove retaliation was a motive in his firing.

Along those lines, DiTolla testified Thursday that at a March 20, 1992, meeting between him, Jack Bedell, the university’s vice president for academic affairs, Shumard and associate athletic director Maryalyce Jeremiah, Bedell said of Huffman: “We have to get rid of that son of a bitch. He’s caused this university enough aggravation.”

Bedell testified Thursday that he had “absolutely not” used retaliation in the process of terminating Huffman. In an earlier deposition, Bedell said he didn’t recall making such a statement.

DiTolla, an athletic administrator through June, 1992, also testified that when Shumard informed him of the court order to reinstate volleyball in March, 1992, the athletic director told him: “But not all was lost. At least we don’t have to keep Coach Huffman.”

Nan Bullington, administrative services coordinator for the Titan athletic department, corroborated DiTolla’s testimony about that statement Thursday, but Shumard insisted that retaliation wasn’t a motive for the termination.

DiTolla admitted that in the spring of 1992 he signed a declaration, written by a university attorney, stating he “didn’t know anything about Huffman’s firing.” But he said it was signed under duress.

DiTolla knew then that his own position would be eliminated, and said he wanted Fullerton administrators to give him a good recommendation for another job.

“I was scared--I didn’t want to upset the apple cart,” DiTolla said. “I signed that even though I knew it was false.”

Huffman, whose teams were 25-80 between 1989-91, has had two expert witnesses testify on his behalf. Joyce Pickersgill, a retired Fullerton economics professor who is now an economic consultant, said Huffman could suffer economic damages between $811,000 and $876,000 if he doesn’t get another Division I head coaching job.

Huffman now works at an Anaheim sports apparel company. He is seeking at least $1.2 million in actual and punitive damages.

Richard Lister, a Costa Mesa clinical psychologist, testified Thursday that Huffman is suffering from depression and has “lost his identity” since being terminated as Titan volleyball coach.

Huffman’s attorneys will wrap up their case Monday, at which point witnesses for the defense will begin testifying.