Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop is in an unusual position entering the 2017 season, as he faces a lawsuit from Penn State, his former employer.

Penn State alleges that Shoop owes nearly $900,000 back to the school after he left prior to the 2016 season to take the Tennessee job.

However, Shoop says he shouldn’t have to pay because he didn’t leave the school, but rather was fired.

The litigation is sure to run throughout the 2017 campaign, but Shoop said on Friday that he’s not concerned about the lawsuit. In fact, he said the only time he’s worried about it is when the media asks him about the case (via the Associated Press):

“It’s not a distraction at all,” Shoop said. “The only time it’s any distraction is when you guys bring it up.”

Shoop understands the media has a job to do, but said he can’t comment on the ongoing case:

“I appreciate the fact that a lot of you are interested in the situation with regard to me and Penn State,” Shoop said. “I can’t comment on it at this time. I promise you it’s just a matter of a contract. We have a number that we feel we owe them and they have a number that they feel we owe them, and people who know a lot more about this stuff than I do are handling it. … It’s really nothing that I even think about it on a daily basis unless I read about it in the paper or you guys tell me about it or call me about it.”

Whatever happens with the lawsuits, the Volunteers need Shoop fully focused on the Tennessee defense this season, as the Vols face the unenviable task of replacing DE Derek Barnett, DB Cam Sutton and LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin.