SPRINGFIELD, MO. ? Missouri State had amended its contract with head football coach Terry Allen to allow the university or the coach to back out at the end of the year without paying penalties, the school said Wednesday.
Allen, a former Kansas University coach who most recently was an Iowa State assistant, replaced Randy Ball, who was fired in November. Missouri State finished the 2005 season 4-6.
Allen’s original five-year contract included provisions that would require him to pay a penalty if he leaves early and would require the school to pay the coach it fired Allen before the end of the contract.
The university’s board of directors last week approved a change that would allow Allen to leave or the school to dismiss him at the end of the first year without penalties. The two-way buy-out terms remain in effect after the first year.
Allen requested the change, the university said in a written statement. It did not say why, and a university spokesman could not immediately comment on the reason for the change.