Basketball coach Jordan Webb is suing the University of Regina for breach of contract, after the school changed course and hired former interim coach Michaela Kleisinger earlier this year. The lawsuit by plaintiff Jordan Webb claims he signed a three-year deal, worth nearly $92,000 per year in salary and other benefits, with the school to become the Cougar’s women’s basketball coach in mid-April. Webb served as the women’s basketball assistant coach with Simon Fraser University from 2019 through last season. He was initially selected for the position over Kleisinger, who was in the role on an interim basis last season. Under her leadership, the Cougars sported a 17-3 regular season record, earning a Canada West postseason birth with the second-best record in the Prairie Division and was the #4 ranked team in the country. Regina won 15-straight games to begin their season before losing three-in-a-row against Alberta and Saskatchewan – a Huskies team which has won 50-straight. Seventeen wins matched its total in 2022-23, the program’s most since the pandemic. It is also the second-best record in the past 10 years. The Cougars went on to lose in the conference semi-finals and failed to make the national final 8 tournament. The decision sparked public outcry that Kleisinger was passed over for the full-time job as advocates claimed some Cougars’ players and commits have indicated intentions to leave the program. This prompted the university to launch an internal investigation into its hiring process. After a review, Kleisinger was offered and accepted the position April 27. “The University of Regina has determined that certain important factors including the interim coach’s demonstrated performance and the strong competitive record under her leadership, as well as her deep connection to the institution and the broader community were not given the necessary weight and merit,” President and vice-chancellor Jeff Keshen’s said in a statement at the time. Webb’s lawsuit claims the U of R decision to walk back his hiring broke the contract. “For reasons which were entirely political, personal and/or gender related the [University of Regina] decided to breach the subject contract by terminating [Webb] and hiring another person for the underlying role,” his statement of claim read. The claim also stated the university was aware of Webb’s personal situation, that he was “of modest means; dependent on his income as a basketball coach; anticipating relocating in reliance of the subject contrast; and not legally sophisticated.” “The defendant knew, or ought to have known, that the plaintiff was particularly vulnerable when it terminated him,” the statement said. “The defendant’s course of conduct has been callous, reprehensible and in bad faith.” In early July, the University of Victoria announced Webb’s hiring as the Vikes’ women’s basketball lead assistant coach for the 2026-27 season.
