The Texas Tech Red Raiders football coach Mike Leach was fired Wednesday, two days after he was suspended amid allegations he acted improperly in the treatment of injured wide receiver Adam James.

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

According to Liggett, the letter stated, "terminated with cause effective immediately."

In February, Leach and the school agreed to a five-year, $12.7 million contract. That deal stated that if he were still the head coach of the Red Raiders on December 31st, he was due to earn an $800,000 bonus.

Earlier this week, Leach was suspended by the university was not to be allowed to coach the Red Raiders in the Alamo Bowl after James alleged the coach twice confined him to small, dark spaces while the practiced.

In an affidavit included with his injunction request to coach Texas Tech agianst Michigan State in the bowl, Leach said he "would never intentionally harm or endanger a player" and that he had been "forced into this situation without being afforded any process."

Leach wrote that no evidence had been given to him that showed he had violated any university rules or standards.

"I have never and would never intentionally harm or endanger a player," Leach said in the affidavit. "I am committed to Texas Tech University and the well being of my football players."

Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill was chosen by the university to be Texas Tech's interim coach against the Spartans State in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.