POCATELLO, Idaho -- Former Idaho State University women's basketball coach Shirley Huyett has filed a lawsuit against the university for breaking a contract.

In the complaint, Huyett alleges she and athletic director Howard Gauthier, a defendant in the complaint, orally agreed to a multiyear contract beyond the one-year deal she accepted in June 2001.

Huyett was put on administrative leave of absence in February before completing her first season, with the team struggling to a 9-12 record.

Huyett and her husband Ernie who served as an assistant coach, are seeking compensation in excess of $100,000 for a three-year contract Gauthier allegedly agreed to. Huyett is also suing for more than $200,000 in damages for injury to her reputation.

Huyett, now residing in Ashland, Ore., was not available for comment.

Bradley Hall, the general counsel for Idaho State University, said he had received a copy of the lawsuit but that the university had not been formally served with the paperwork for the complaint.

"I haven't had a chance to see it in a lot of detail,'' Hall said. "It alleges she had a multiyear contract to coach at ISU. We believe she had a one-year deal.''

He said that the lawsuit did not comes as a surprise because the allegation of a multiyear contract had been brought up before.

"We always said we would pay what was owed her, but do not agree there was a multiyear contract,'' Hall said. "Only the state board can approve a multiyear contract and that just was not done.''

Hall said the university has negotiated "in good faith'' with Huyett regarding compensation included in the initial contract, including an estimated $13,000 for summer camps and $1,000 for a coaches show.

The Huyetts' attorney, Pocatello-based Steven Richert, declined to comment.