January 27, 2015
Groton football coach asks for job back
GROTON — Former varsity football coach Jeff Lewis made a public plea on Monday, speaking for the first time at a board of education meeting and calling to reinstate members of the football staff that were penalized for a September locker room incident that rocked the district.
The district decided in December not to rehire Lewis and assistant doach Bobby Brull for the next football season and Lewis decried the decision Monday.
“Please reinstate the football staff because they did nothing wrong,” Lewis said. “I did exactly what I was always told to do.”
Lewis said he could move the team past the lockerroom incident, adding he always emphasizes to his players the importance of owning up to mistakes.
“(I tell the players) we’re going to fix this and we’re going to move on,” he said. “I don’t hold it against them for the rest of their lives.”
After the incident, Lewis said he and the other coaches stayed connected with the players, including the victim, and supported each one through the difficult time.
The incident involved a football player holding down a student while a second football player inappropriately touched the student, according to a witness statement on the incident given to the Groton Police Department.
Other attendees at the meeting asked the board if it was moving forward with rehiring Lewis and spoke on his behalf.
Scott Oudekerk, a parent in the district, asked the board of education if there had been any change or if there was any timeline to change the status of Lewis’ employment.
“Any personnel questions can be directed to my office and I will definitely answer them,” Interim Superintendent of Schools J. D. Pabis responded.
When asked if there was any update about Lewis’ employment after the meeting, Pabis said, “We will be posting for our open positions and announce successful candidates soon.”
Pabis did not elaborate further, but noted there were open coaching positions for various sports teams.
This is not the first time that there has been a call for the district to reexamine its handling of the situation.
A packed audience of about 75 varsity football players, parents and residents requested the board reinstate the coaches at the board of education’s Jan. 12 meeting.
After that meeting, Board President Sophia Darling said the hiring of coaches is based on the recommendation of the district superintendent.
Former Superintendent of Schools James Abrams recommended the board not rehire the coaches before he resigned from the district Jan. 5.
Abrams, Lewis and Brull all left the district after the Sept. 10 incident in the locker room.
Two students pleaded guilty to first-degree harassment in Groton Town Court for their roles in the incident and are set to be sentenced Wednesday. They could face up to 90 days in jail and $500 in fines, plus a surcharge of $205.
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