Olympia School Board may reinstate basketball coach
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OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Olympia School Board will consider reinstating the Capital High School boys' basketball coach who was removed after reported "forced sexual contact" between students at a summer camp.
District spokesman Ryan Betz says the board will consider comments from parents at last week's meeting who said the students, not coach Doug Galloway, should be held more accountable.
Sheri Cox is just one of many parents speaking up for Galloway.
"It has a lot of people frustrated in terms of the process and what's taken place," she said. "Everybody is in strong support of the coach, what he is both on the court and off the court."
Betz says board members will consider the personnel issue in private at Monday's meeting, the Olympian reported.
The problems arose at Western Washington University where Galloway took his team for a summer basketball camp. Galloway left his players for a few hours to attend a coach's social event, and while he was gone, two upper-classmen are suspected of forcing sexual contact with younger players.
Galloway told KOMO News during an interview on Aug. 23 that thought he left the team in good hands because an assistant coach was still around, as well as college players acting as chaperones.
"When I left that evening, I felt comfortable the kids would be safe," Galloway said during the interview. "There were people there to watch them and make sure they would be as safe as possible."
Galloway was allowed to remain as the coach of the girls' golf team and as a P.E. instructor.
The Whatcom County prosecutor has declined to file any criminal charges against the students involved. The district says the students did receive academic discipline, but refused to offer any details.
District spokesman Ryan Betz says the board will consider comments from parents at last week's meeting who said the students, not coach Doug Galloway, should be held more accountable.
Sheri Cox is just one of many parents speaking up for Galloway.
"It has a lot of people frustrated in terms of the process and what's taken place," she said. "Everybody is in strong support of the coach, what he is both on the court and off the court."
Betz says board members will consider the personnel issue in private at Monday's meeting, the Olympian reported.
The problems arose at Western Washington University where Galloway took his team for a summer basketball camp. Galloway left his players for a few hours to attend a coach's social event, and while he was gone, two upper-classmen are suspected of forcing sexual contact with younger players.
Galloway told KOMO News during an interview on Aug. 23 that thought he left the team in good hands because an assistant coach was still around, as well as college players acting as chaperones.
"When I left that evening, I felt comfortable the kids would be safe," Galloway said during the interview. "There were people there to watch them and make sure they would be as safe as possible."
Galloway was allowed to remain as the coach of the girls' golf team and as a P.E. instructor.
The Whatcom County prosecutor has declined to file any criminal charges against the students involved. The district says the students did receive academic discipline, but refused to offer any details.
Yay! I called and left a message for the superintendant. See, people? It does help to complain when someone is done wrong!
How about we quit punishing the coach and go after the damn kids responsible? Just goes to show when they're out for blood, they're out for blood, wherever they can get it.
How about we go after the parents of these kids that did the abusing. People should think before having kids. These appear to lack any parenting skills. @Zoso
@BlindmanSo you believe that we should not punish the kids but punish the parents as if they really had anything to do with the abusing? Once again, you prove some interesting logic.
Previous school board action reeked of "CYA! Find someone to blame! Don't sue us! See, we HELD SOMEONE ACCOUNTABLE!" Hope they're actually considering reinstating him rather than just humoring the parents/wasting their time.
 @anon4444 You hit the nail on the head.  Although I suspect if they don't reinstate him, there will be school board members out of a job soon.
He should be reinstated. When the story first came out, it sounded very much like he had taken all reasonable measures to ensure the safety of his students. It would be another matter if he'd neglected his responsibilities but doesn't seem to be the case here.
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Mike
Give him his coaching job back and charge the adult college students with sexual assault!
Glad to hear they will "consider" reinstating him. Â IMHO, his dismissal sends the wrong message to other leaders that it is better to hide such things than report them. Â The school board must be Penn State grads.
 @Tim Lane Exactly what I was thinking ~ "...better to hide such things than report them."  WRONG MESSAGE!
I'm glad if they reinstate him. Not too happy that the boys aren't being charged with something though.Â
@achoo2 Seems to me if they are going to hold someone responsible, other than the students that actually committed the crime, they should be looking at the assistant coach or the college-age chaperones. Don't blame the man who wasn't there.
@katiemcc  You didn't read my post. I wasn't blaming him at all.
good!