LIVONIA, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A high school wrestling coach fired by Livonia Public Schools took to Facebook to explain why he was let go amid social media rumors it involved a transgender student/athlete.
The coach posts on social media.
Livonia Franklin Coach Dave Chiola made his post Sunday.
According to Chiola’s Facebook post, the district’s athletic director had called him to let him know a transgender wrestler was joining the team. Chiola said he told the athletic director he was aware of the situation and it wasn’t a big deal. The athletic director talked about privacy concerns and where the individual would shower. Chiola said there was a private shower and it wouldn’t be a big deal. Chiola said the athletic director brought up more concerns and Chiola said, “This may not be an issue. Wrestling at Franklin is very hard and the individual may quit. And if practices are missed like last year, I would have to kick him off anyway.”
Chiola said that some students overheard part of that conversation and reported it to school officials.
“I’m sure if I was talking about a non-transgender nothing would have happened. The students jumped to conclusions and ran with it and it just spiraled,” Chiola told Michigan News Source in a message.
Chiola said that he made the statement about kicking off the student because many students quit the team when they realize how demanding his program is.
“We went from 69 to 39 kids last year and we don’t cut,” Chiola said in his public Facebook post. “The only thing I probably shouldn’t have done was take a private call (on my cell phone) in front of students, but nothing I said was derogatory. I thought this could have been handled so easily. I could have gone into the classroom Monday and told the class they only heard half of a conversation and heard things out of context. Nobody was damaged by our conversation. I treat all of my wrestlers equally. Instead, Livonia decided to use this as a reason to get rid of me.”
The school responds.
Livonia Public Schools denied the termination had anything to do with accommodations of transgender athletes.
“It has come to our attention that many false rumors are circulating on social media and within our community regarding the circumstances surrounding the recent termination of the Franklin High School Wrestling Coach,” Livonia Public Schools said in a statement to Michigan News Source. “Simply stated, social media commentary has painted an inaccurate and misinformed depiction of the situation. Accusations suggesting that the termination decision was premised, in any way, on the handling of supports for a transgender student-athlete have been spread without any basis in fact.”
The statement went on to say, “Such false allegations are reckless and are made without any apparent concern for the damage that may be caused to the students and/or staff of Livonia Public Schools. While we do not share specifics of personnel decisions publicly, we can unequivocally assert that the employment action taken in this case was not, in any way, based upon any disagreement between LPS and the Wrestling Coach regarding the use of facilities by any student-athlete.”
Chiola coached for 24 years.
Chiola started coaching high school wrestling in 2000 at Livonia Franklin. He said he retired from teaching last year after 24 years but was being used as a substitute.
“Livonia feels by me giving details, they were right in firing me because they want it private, but some of the rumors I have heard are horrific and even criminal,” Chiola said in his Facebook post. “I feel like I should be able to defend myself. I thought everything could have been handled differently. I am going to the school board because my character and integrity has been questioned, and parents were lied to. I hope the rumors stop.”
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