Pine-Richland superintendent issues letter, district moving on with new coaches

Pine-Richland Superintendent Brian Miller has informed district families that they will be moving on with new football coaches despite weeks of public outcry over the firing of head coach Eric Kasperowicz and his staff.

Miller did so in the form of a letter to families Friday.

The school board recently voted not to extend the coach’s contract for another season after a three-monthlong investigation was conducted into allegations of misbehavior in the football program that included hazing, bullying, intimidation and “rites of passage.”

Kasperowicz has denied that those things occurred under his watch and reapplied for his job.

“Our community is hurting amidst a culture of fear in which many individuals are afraid to speak up for fear that they may be perceived as aligned with the district,” the letter read.

“While the media and public discussion has focused on the findings related to hazing that Mr. Kasperowicz and his supporters have tried to minimize, there are other factors that are equally important reasons for the non-renewal of Eric Kasperowicz’s supplemental contract as the Pine-Richland varsity head football coach.

“There is a history of a broad range of issues related to Mr. Kasperowicz and his responsibilities for program management and institutional control.”

Miller wrote there are areas in need of development such as recruiting and failure to report serious matters when the coach became aware.

A message to Kasperowicz was not immediately returned.

The superintendent wrote about an interview between the coach and school administrators.

“We have an individual who refused to take responsibility and ownership for aspects of the football program,” Miller wrote. “He deflected questions, minimized serious issues, pointed fingers at others, and at times acted in a combative manner in a 2.5-hour meeting with the administration.”

Kasperowicz did apologize to the district for his “attitude and behavior” during that late-March interview via letter.

“The items we were discussing reflected poorly on myself and my staff and I was not able to properly control my negative emotions,” the coach’s letter stated. “My conduct was not close to the level of professional discourse I expect from myself — nor those I supervise in my education career.”

Miller addressed the hazing and intimidation allegations in his letter to parents.

He said there were acts of bullying, physical and emotional intimidation, humiliation and rites of passage that are unacceptable and were not reported by Kasperowicz.

Miller said that administrators involved in the investigation and all school board members were in agreement not to renew the former coach’s contract.

“(We are) absolutely moving forward to hire a new coach and staff that reflects the mission, vision and values of the district and serves to strengthen institutional integrity,” Miller wrote. “However, certain actions and behaviors in the community and outside the community are hampering our ability to hire a qualified coach.

”The new Pine-Richland coach will find full support from the administration and the board and will be afforded the opportunity to coach at a high-achieving school district with the resources necessary to succeed.”

Miller also called for the community to “come together in the days ahead as the misinformation has caused riffs between community members that must be mended.”

Tribune-Review news partner WPXI tweeted Miller’s letter.

#JUSTIN Pine-Richland families just received this email from superintendent Dr. Brian Miller regarding the football coaches’ firing. He said PRSD “is absolutely moving forward to hire a new coach and staff.” @WPXI pic.twitter.com/AHg0J1iuNL

— Jillian Hartmann WPXI (@JillianWPXI) May 7, 2021

Hundreds and hundreds of people have come forth in support of the coach and implored the district to reinstate him. Some even going as far as to rally outside the administrative offices.