In what may be one of the most tone-deaf decisions ever made by a local school board in recent memory, Steubenville High School head football coach Reno Saccoccia had his administrative contract extended. I mentioned this yesterday, but I'm reposting because as outrageous as this situation is, this needs more eyes.
Buried in one line of an Ohio Valley Herald Star reporton local business is the news that Steubenville High School football coach Reno Saccocia was approved for a two-year administrative contract by the Steubenville school board over the weekend.
Lest you think this is snark, here's the actual listing:
Two-year administrative contracts for Charles Kokiko, administrator; Bryan Mills, assistant middle school principal; Reno Saccoccia, director of administrative services; Joseph Yanok, middle school principal; Melinda Young, director of programs; and Sara Elliot, school psychologist.
I'm shaking with anger so much I can hardly type. Here's a guy who suggested that one of Trent Mays and Ma’lik Richmond's victims was lying about what happened to her. According to witness testimony and text messages, he almost certainly knew about the rape and didn't report it--and yet, he still has a job?
Saccoccia is currently being investigated by a grand jury for his alleged role in covering up the rapes. But even if he is innocent, any person who suggests that a rape victim is lying is morally unfit to work in our schools. Period.
Forbes' youth sports blogger, Bob Cook, offers one theory for why Saccoccia is still (at least for now) on Steubenville City Schools' payroll. According to Cook, Saccoccia's contract is at-will.
By signing Saccoccia to a new deal instead of shuffling him off, the school district is basically allowing the legal process to play out before taking any punitive action.
If the grand jury testimony finds Saccoccia to have done no wrong, legally or otherwise, then the school has covered its own legal behind by already re-signing him. While being a coach does not carry tenure, like being a teacher, surely the Steubenville schools are thinking they would open themselves up to a lawsuit by firing a coach who has amassed a 311-59 record over 30 years (the winningest active high school football coach in the state of Ohio) with no known, previous blemishes on his reputation.
However, if Saccoccia is indicted, or if something untoward comes out, the school has the legal cover to let him go as a coach, what with the administrative contract being at-will. And, perhaps more importantly, it has something concrete it can point to in explaining to angry Steubenville fans why they cashiered a local boy who stayed home and did very, very good.
One problem with Cook's explanation, though. Saccoccia has already proven himself morally unfit to be around children in ANY capacity by suggesting that girl was lying. In what world is saying that a rape victim is making her story up not a firing offense? Apparently in Steubenville.