The firing was to pre-empt the hearing, which would have resulted in an injunction allowing Leach to coach Bowl game, and a major black eye to Tech administration.
As a Tech alum, I see the entire thing as shameful. Daddy James has a long history of being a publicity hound and grandstander/blow hard. But, this was just the "incident" Myers needed to make the move he had long wanted to make. It's both money and personally motivated.
Tech will now begin the quick slide back into laughingstock status. Just watch those recruits who de-commit, and begin exodus to other schools.