Ex-Coach Claims School Compensates Girls Coaches Less Than Boys Coaches

A former Longview High School girls soccer coach on Monday night made allegations of inequities between sports programs in the school district.

Chris Yoder resigned from his position as the Lady Lobos soccer coach in August because the district did not compensate his “coaching position on a level equal to other coaches on staff.”

Yoder, who remains a Career and Technical Education teacher at the high school, addressed the school board Monday night during public comment, alleging there are some inequities in Longview ISD sports that he does not feel are in “complete compliance” with Title IX.

Title IX was established in 1972 to prevent gender discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.

“I encourage the school board to take a close look at Title IX and assure that all sports are being treated fairly and equally as required under the law,” Yoder said. “Yes, the Lobo football program is great and it deserves the recognition that it gets. Fortunately for all other sports at LHS, Title IX says that they deserve the same treatment.”

Longview ISD officials went into a closed session after the public portion of the meeting was over and were not able to be reached for comment late Monday night to refute Yoder’s claims.

Yoder, who began working for the school district in 2000, said he was paid less than two other coaches of female sports — the volleyball coach and girls basketball coach — who had been with the district for two years. Yoder said the volleyball and girls basketball coaches are on 12-month contracts while he was on a 10-month contract. Yoder said he was denied a request for a 12-month contract, and received communication from Superintendent James Wilcox via Athletic Director John King that the district would not increase his salary.

“One of the main reasons I decided to resign was because of the inequalities in coaches’ salaries within the athletic department,” Yoder said. “There is no logical justification for paying one coach more than another coach simply based on the sport they coach. The only thing that should be taken into account is years of service for Longview ISD or in the education or coaching field.”

Additionally, Yoder said he, the baseball coach, the boys soccer coach and the tennis coach, each received one conference period while all other head coaches and some assistant coaches received at least two conference periods. Within two days of Yoder’s coaching resignation, the baseball coach, the boys soccer coach and the tennis coach received an additional conference period, Yoder said.

There are also inequities in booster club funding, Yoder said. He noted that Trent Williams had donated at least $100,000 to the football program for lockers.

“Title IX plainly and distinctly says that since that money was earmarked for the benefit of only the football program, an equitable amount of money is to be dispersed evenly amongst the other sports, specifically female sports at the high school,” he said. “I would ask that the board determine if equal funds are being distributed to the other sports, specifically female sports.”