Parents Ask For Undefeated Coach's Ouster Due To Language, Harassment

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio - On paper the Richmond Heights High School boy's basketball team is enjoying a perfect season.   They're 15-0 on the year, coming off a lopsided 86-41 win last Friday over Hawken.

"Now you would think they would be very happy, very cheerful, everything," parent Alvin Fulton said.  "No, they're frustrated."

His comments were made to the Richmond Heights School Board.  He came to the board Monday night with a handful of other parents upset over the way varsity boys basketball coach Jason Popp has spoken to the team in the past.

Web Exclusive: View the letter from parents to the school district. Warning, the letter contains offensive language.
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An unsigned letter addressed from "Parents of Richmond Heights Boys Varsity Basketball" asks Superintendent Linda Hardwick to remove Popp over his "use of inappropriate language, as well as racial and economic harassment."

The letter then lists a number of incidents where the coach is alleged to have made degrading comments to the team and individual players.

"These and other insulting and degrading comments have been said consistently to our children while at team meetings, on the bus and at practice," the letter reads.

"There's a lot of racist comments that's been made that I don't think there's a need for because this is a sport," said parent Angelique Hall.  "We don't need our kids to be put down because they're young gentlemen trying to become something," she said.

The letter also says "the boys refuse to continue on with Head Coach Jason Popp," and called for an interim coach to be named.  One of the players told the board "no change, no play."

The meeting was an emergency meeting called not for this but for another matter.  Board President Joshua Kaye said they would take the matter up next Monday at their next regular meeting Monday February 14.

That wasn't what parent Nneka Jackson wanted to hear.  "What about the boys tomorrow are they to forfeit tomorrow? Is that what you're saying you want them to forfeit tomorrow? Because they are not stepping on the court with Jason Popp."

Calls made for comment to Jason Popp were not returned.

Superintendent Linda Hardwick said no action can or would be taken until she at very least spoke with Jason Popp.  She promised to meet with him tomorrow as well as some of the players.

In the meantime the seven players present said they were sticking by their decision not to take the court Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. against Independence High School if Popp takes the court as coach.