Team Parents Speak Out on Behalf of Fired T.C. Williams Coach at ACPS School Board Meeting

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- A D.C. police officer and two parents spoke out in support of fired T.C. Williams basketball coach Bryan Hill Thursday night before members of the Alexandria City Public Schools school board, one of whom is accused of engineering the coach's firing.

Hill was told he was being fired from the position just before team tryouts because he gave a student a ride home and because students were working out on a Sunday, which is apparently against the rules. Hill couldn't hold practices on Saturdays because he was busy tutoring students in algebra to help raise math scores at the school. He also needed to spend time with his two young children. The team members took it upon themselves to meet Sundays and Hill said he would be there to help them.

Hill also spoke at Thursday night's school board meeting. He told the board members that the trouble started after he received a "rather aggressive" email from one of the school board members, who also has two boys at T.C. Williams who play basketball. The email was sent from the school board member's ACPS school board email account, about perceived problems related to the basketball team, Hill said.

The school board member has said he was getting involved out of his concern as a parent.

Hill was let go after the school board member met with the athletic director; both the athletic director and the principal, who are both leaving the school, met with Hill and told him he was being let go.

Hill also said Thursday night that he is also requesting that "untruths" be taken from his personnel file, in particular a statement that he not have any contact with the basketball team members going forward. He said he would have difficulty getting another job with something like that on his record.

It's unclear whether the school board members Thursday night knew that Hill was let go a week before varsity basketball try-outs; none of them asked any questions about the fairness of the situation or whether a school board member has the authority to get involved in hiring and firing at Alexandria's schools when they have concerns that involve their families.

Metropolitan Police Officer Edwin Buckner, speaking on Hill's behalf after working with him previously at Ballou High School in D.C., said Thursday night that Hill was a consistent role model for the basketball team. The team members themselves wrote a letter supporting Hill.

Parent Jeff Harold, a father of four, also spoke in support of Hill Thursday night, telling school board members how his son's academic life got a boost, working with Hill on the basketball team. He said Hill provided a nurturing environment and that his son thrived, advancing from a 2.9 grade average to 4.4 the last six quarters, with the last quarter seeing a GPA of 4.5.

Harold went on to call out the school board member who some say engineered the firing of the coach, calling his involvement "unethical."

Another parent said it was unfair to fire the coach because he gave a student a ride home. "Coach Hill determined that it was safer to bring the child home rather than leaving him at the school alone," said parent Cleo Green.

Green also said to stipulate that Hill not have any contact with the team he coached is "vindictive" and "mean."