Wayne Schools Paid Former Coach $400K In Booster Club Lawsuit: Report

This article has been updated to include comment from the Wayne School Board president.

WAYNE, NJ — The Wayne Township School Board agreed to pay $400,000 to settle a lawsuit with a former high school baseball coach, according to details published by a government transparency advocate.

Trustees approved the settlement with former Wayne Hills baseball coach Scott Illiano at their Sept. 26 meeting, though there were few details included in the meeting agenda.

The details of the settlement were reported by John Paff, an open government advocate who runs the website transparencynj.com.

Illiano, who was the Wayne Hills High School baseball coach for the 2018-2020 seasons, filed his lawsuit on Dec. 2, 2021.

He claimed that members of the the team's Booster Club hampered his fundraising efforts while he was coach, excluded certain parents from running for officer positions in the club, and eventually retaliated against him by spreading lies that he was taking kickbacks. Illiano believes he was terminated from his head coaching position as an act of retaliation, as well, according to the lawsuit.

His lawsuit also alleged that the school board, former athletic director Richard Porfido, and Superintendent Dr. Mark Toback did not enforce compliance with district policies, or intervene when he told them of boosters' misconduct, according to Paff's report.

This alleged misconduct included alcohol being served without his knowledge at a 2018 team banquet, "leading to loud and inappropriate behavior by parents and others in attendance," the report said.

In a statement, Board of Education President Don Pavlak said the settlement was the best financial decision for the district given their insurance policy.

"We understand that this decision may not satisfy everyone, and we share your frustration," he said. "However, we are committed to being prudent stewards of taxpayer dollars and believe this settlement protects the district from potentially significant future liabilities."

The settlement keeps the matter from going to trial, and is not an admission of wrongdoing by the school board, booster club, or any other district or club officials. You can read more here.