LUBBOCK (December 31, 2009)--Texas Tech fired head football coach Mike Leach Wednesday after Leach took the school to court to try to overturn his suspension for alleged mistreatment of an injured player.

The Houston Chronicle reported that second-year Baylor head coach Art Briles is a leading candidate to replace Leach.

Neither Briles nor Baylor has commented on the report.

Meanwhile Thursday, the finger pointing had begun.

Texas Tech Chancellor Kent Hance told The Associated Press he is "very sad to say there's only one person to blame for this and it's Mike Leach."

Jerry Turner, vice chairman of the university system's board of regents, said, "other things" came to light during an investigation of Leach's treatment of receiver Adam James.

The sophomore alleged the coach twice confined him to a small, dark place after he was diagnosed with a concussion.

The termination comes less than a year after Leach and the school agreed to a five-year contract after contentious negotiations.

According to terms of the deal, Leach was due an $800,000 bonus on Thursday if he were still the Red Raiders coach.

Leach released a statement Wednesday night in Houston that said, "Over the past several months, there have been individuals in the Texas Tech administration, Board of Regents and booster groups who have dealt in lies, and continue to do so. These lies have led to my firing this morning. I steadfastly refuse to deal in any lies, and am disappointed that I have not been afforded the opportunity for the truth to be known."

Leach said he’s pursuing all possible legal remedies and says the university’s actions severely damaged his reputation and public image.

The school handed a termination letter to Leach's attorney, Ted Liggett, on Wednesday just before the two sides were to appear in a Lubbock courtroom for a hearing on the coach's suspension.

Liggett said the letter says Leach, 48, who has coached at Tech for a decade, is "terminated with cause effective immediately."

Liggett said Wednesday afternoon he plans to sue the school soon over the firing.

“The fight has just begun," he said.

He said he has evidence showing the suspension was without merit.

The school suspended Leach on Monday while it investigated allegations that he mistreated the injured player.

In the court filing Wednesday, Leach said he "would never intentionally harm or endanger a player" and that he has been "forced into this situation without being afforded any process."

James is the son of former SMU and NFL standout Craig James, who’s now an ESPN analyst.

Craig James was to have provided analysis for the Alamo Ball, but has been pulled from the game.

Texas Tech plays Michigan State on Saturday in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.

Assistant coach Ruffin McNeill was named interim head coach after Leach was suspended and will coach the Red Raiders Saturday.

An announcement of the firing didn’t immediately appear on either the university’s Web site or the Texas Tech Athletic Web site, which described Leach as, “Arguably one of the most innovative coaches in the country…”

“Mike Leach not only has transformed Texas Tech Football, but also the face of college football with an all-out aerial assault,” Leach’s official biography says.

“Leach's offense has become a hot commodity as coaching staffs from across the country have come to Lubbock get a glimpse into what makes the program tick; but none have mastered it like the 10th-year coach,” the bio says.