More than seven months after his abrupt firing in December, former Ball State women's volleyball coach Randy Litchfield said he feels his coaching days are over.
"When a male who has coached women is fired under mysterious circumstances I can personally confirm the fact that that male's coaching days are over," Litchfield said Wednesday. "I have applied for over a dozen jobs, some not even good jobs, and I got 'ding' letters almost immediately. My feeling is my coaching career has been ruined."
The 2006 women's volleyball season was the first time the program had a losing record since Litchfield became coach in 1989. However, he places the blame for his termination solely on his former employer.
Litchfield and his former coaching staff were witnesses to the first set of the men's basketball coaching violations.
"My staff were unfortunate witnesses to that and were forced to file official statements of that with university compliance," Litchfield said. "We have some reason to believe our requirement to report these violations were connected to our termination."
While he has not decided whether or not to sue Ball State over his dismissal, he and his lawyers have taken the steps needed to make sure he will have the ability to sue in the future.
"My lawyer and I filled a very simple legal action," Litchfield said. "It gives us the opportunity to sue for my termination. It's called a tort claim notification. It doesn't mean I filed a suit; it gives me the ability to file suit."
According to Litchfield, he had a six-month window to file the tort claim from the day of his termination or the opportunity would no longer exist. Now that he has filed the needed paperwork, he has a three-year window to decide to sue.
Ball State Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tom Collins declined to comment on Wednesday.
Even though Litchfield coached women, he is not opposed to making the switch to men's volleyball. However, he said it is unlikely.
"There is such a limited number of opportunities," Litchfield said. "So few programs get the funding that they need. I do not know of any opportunities."
Despite being turned down quickly and often for other coaching opportunities, Litchfield said he understands why.
"I can put myself in these administrators' shoes, and I don't fault them at all," Litchfield said. "I have daughters that are close to or in their teenage years, and I would want them playing for a reputable coach who has a history of integrity. What I feel like has happened is that I have lost my reputation and my integrity due to no fault of my own."
Litchfield and his lawyers are still collecting information before making the decision.
"It's a matter of putting pieces together right now," Litchfield said. "That is why we are working on time lines and gathering information. We are not ready to speak in any detail. Late this month my attorneys and I are going to have a long sit down and really try to put some direction together."
While Litchfield is trying to collect as much information as possible, he said he has no interest in talking to most Ball State athletics employees.
"Only if necessary," Litchfield said. "There's no one in any position of authority over there that I have any desire to meet with at this stage of the game."
His termination has left Litchfield with such a bad taste in his mouth he said he can no longer support Ball State.
"Sadly I'm finished," Litchfield said. "Its been my home since 1980. I played there, I starred there, I graduated there. It's essentially the only place I ever worked. To know that's all gone now is pretty painful."
After living in Muncie for a majority of his life, Litchfield will soon not call Muncie, or Delaware County home. Litchfield will be moving with his wife and two daughters approximately 60 miles down Interstate-69 to Indianapolis. Litchfield is looking into some business opportunities in Marion County, and hopefully the beginning of a fresh start.
"I am in the process of purchasing a couple companies," Litchfield said. "The next-closest thing to coaching and being in the athletics world is being an entrepreneur. I'll be competitive in that area, and hopefully that will satisfy my need to compete. Staying around here would not be healthy for me."
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