Jimmy Williams has handed former UK coach Tubby Smith one of the most difficult losses of his career.

Williams, a former Oklahoma State assistant coach, sued Smith and the University of Minnesota, after resigning his job at OSU to pursue a position on Smith's staff, only to be told the job wasn't his.

A jury has awarded Williams $1.247 million in the case, saying Smith misrepresented his authority to hire assistants.

Williams said Smith called him shortly after the former UK coach took over at Minnesota, offering a $200,000 position on Smith's staff.  Smith decided not to hire Williams after UM President, Joel Maturi, informed Smith about NCAA violations with the Gophers in the 1970s and 1980s, when Williams was an assistant coach under Bill Musselman and Jim Dutcher