Hempfield Area School District boys basketball coach under investigation
GREENSBURG, Pa. (KDKA) — The Hempfield Area School District has started an internal investigation concerning a basketball coach.
The boys varsity basketball team was back at it on Wednesday after Tuesday night's game was postponed amid allegations involving the head coach.
Head coach Bill Swan was placed on leave Tuesday while the district looks into complaints. Meantime, KDKA-TV has received several emails from parents in support of coach Swan.
District Superintendent Dr. Mark Holtzman says he cannot comment on specifics but calls the information received by the district rumors. He stresses, however, that it's his job to investigate for the safety of the student-athletes.
"Any kind of rumor like this, if you're innocent or you're guilty, you should definitely want to be investigated to the fullest extent," said Leo Nolan from Greensburg.
In a letter, the athletic director asked parents to contact the athletic department if they have any information they think the administration should know about. The athletic director also asked the boys basketball program and its families to continue to support one another "during this difficult time."
KDKA-TV learned that this isn't the first time Swan has been investigated by the district. He was fired from his first stint coaching the Spartans in 2009 and was required to undergo anger management classes. According to the settlement reached with the district, Swan agreed to never apply for a coaching position in Hempfield, only to be re-hired in 2014.
"I don't know how that happens. I would like to hear more about that, how that even occurred," Nolan said.
KDKA-TV reached out to the district solicitor to get an answer. She said she wasn't the solicitor back then, neither was the superintendent, and is looking into how that happened as part of the investigation.
"It's not good to hear he got fired and then you hear this rumor."
KDKA-TV reached out to state police who confirmed they are investigating. While Swan is being investigated, assistant coach Mark Katarski will be the interim coach.