Campton United sues over former soccer coach's new job

The Campton United Soccer Club is crying foul after one of its coaches resigned and took a job with a nearby club.

In a lawsuit filed in Kane County, Campton United has asked a judge to: stop Chris Brown, its former director of girls coaching, from working for Aurora-based Team Chicago until October; order him to return a laptop containing confidential information about players, coaching techniques and sponsors; and to have Team Chicago remove an April 1, 2016, social media post about Brown's hiring.

"The lawsuit involves the violation of a post-employment, restrictive covenant by Brown at the inducement and behest of Team Chicago," Campton United's attorneys wrote in the suit.

Campton United attorneys argue that Brown, who worked as a goalkeeper coach from 2011 through April 15, 2015, agreed to not work for another soccer club within a 30-mile radius for 18 months after his employment with Campton United ceased.

According to the suit, the club informed Brown in March 2015 his employment would end June 30, 2015. Brown resigned in April and was paid a $5,584 deferred bonus payment. In exchange, he signed a separation letter that reaffirmed the noncompete clause, read the lawsuit.

Team Chicago said April 1, 2016, on its Facebook page it hired Brown and touted his past experience with Campton United, according to the lawsuit. As of Wednesday, the post could not be found on the team's Facebook page.

The lawsuit argues Brown's actions could harm the club's operations and reputation, and his employment with the nearby club could be used to siphon players from Campton United and lure other potential players away. Tryouts for the season begin this month.

"Campton United has spent 30 years building its reputation and that reputation attracts players and coaches alike," Campton United's lawsuit reads, adding it spent more than $2 million to erect an indoor practice facility in 2010 and more than $1 million a year to attract players and retain coaches.

The private club draws more than 600 players from Batavia, St. Charles and Geneva, as well as Bartlett, West Chicago, Aurora, Elgin, Maple Park, Sugar Grove, Wasco, South Elgin, Wayne and DeKalb County, according to the lawsuit.

A message left with Team Chicago Executive Director Phil Nielson was not immediately returned.

Brown did not return a phone message nor email.