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Posted: Tuesday, 07 July 2009 8:02AM
CPS coach fired for paddling athletes seeks judicial review
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CHICAGO (STNG) - A high school coach fired for paddling student athletes, which prompted a new bylaw from the Chicago Public High Schools Athletic Association that possibly bans coaches for life for just one violation, wants to be re-instated and have a "do not hire" designation removed from his personal file.
Courtney Hargrays, who was the boy’s basketball coach at John Marshall Metropolitan High School, was dismissed after students came forward claiming Hargrays paddled student athletes.
In a filing Monday in Cook County Circuit Court, Hargrays wants a judicial review of the procedure which led to his ouster as basketball coach and as a teachers assistant at the South Side school.
Hargrays claims evidence presented to a hearing officer were not factual but based on hearsay. Hargrays claims the hearing officer allowed evidence from student athletes which had been influenced by a departed head coach, and the hearing officer admitted statements into the record which could not be subject to cross examination.
The filing also claims at a April 15 hearing, Hargrays was not represented by counsel, and decisions were “contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence,” and not in accordance with the law.
The filing names the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Chief Executive Officer Ron Huberman, and Chicago Board of Education President Michael Scott.
Hargrays wants a judicial review of all testimonies and exhibits presented at the hearing, so the decision to remove him from his positions could be reversed.
The paddling allegations against Hargrays followed an investigation by CPS about several public high school coaches practicing corporal punishment on student athletes. CPS also conducted six other inquiries into alleged paddling by coaches.
The allegations prompted the Chicago Public High Schools Athletic Association to change their bylaws by creating the possibility that coaches can be banned for life for just one rule violation. Previously, such punishment followed only "knowing and repeated" rule violations.
It also mandates annual coaching training, requires that all coaches undergo criminal background checks and fingerprint analysis, and establishes a "pool" of thoroughly screened candidates from which principals must now pick their coaches.
Hargrays led Marshall to the Class 3A state title in his first season.
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Copyright 2009 STNG Wire, The Chicago Sun-Times. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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