COLUMBUS, Ohio — Three members of Olentangy Liberty High School’s varsity boys’ hockey coaching staff were placed on leave Tuesday, according to the district.
One of those placed on leave, head coach Kevin Alexander, sent a letter to players thanking them for their hard work and expressing disappointment in the timing of the suspensions — nodding to the OHSAA State Hockey Tournament.
“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.
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.
Olentangy Liberty, the No. 1-seeded team in the regional tournament, plays Thomas Worthington in a quarterfinal at OhioHealth Ice Haus on Saturday. The team won the 2022-2023 OHSAA State Championship last year under Alexander’s leadership.