Ohio hockey coaches placed on leave ahead of state tournament

The coaches from an Ohio boys’ high school hockey program were placed on leave last week.

Olentangy Liberty High School’s head hockey coach, Kevin Alexander, was among the three coaches placed on leave.

He issued a letter to his players thanking them for their hard work while expressing disappointment with the timing ahead of the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) state hockey tournament.

A recent story from 10TV.com detailed the coaches’ suspension. Below is an excerpt from the 10TV.com story.

“No great coach is perfect, but every great coach and great player knows Hockey is a tough game that requires grit and mental toughness. Great coaches always have nothing but the best interest of their players in mind. As everyone knows we have nothing but love and respect for our past and present players,” his letter read in part.

While he did not state the specific reason for the suspension, he listed a timeline of how he was notified by the district.

Alexander said on Feb. 18, he was notified that a parent made a report. Two days later, Alexander said he was informed that the complaint had to be reported to HR for an investigation and that he and the other two coaches would be suspended indefinitely.

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A statement sent to 10TV by the district read in part: “Please know the best interests of our students and student-athletes is one of the District’s top priorities. Olentangy Schools is committed to our mission to facilitate maximum learning for every student.”

The district would not provide further comment on the suspensions or the coach’s letter.

To read the full story from 10TV.com, click here.