Former Hempfield high school boys basketball coach to retire from guidance counselor job

After resigning from his coaching duties last month, former Hempfield Area High School boys basketball coach Bill Swan will retire from his job as a district guidance counselor.

The move was announced at a Hempfield School Board meeting this week. Swan declined to comment when contacted by a reporter Wednesday.

Swan was placed on paid administrative leave from his coaching and guidance counselor positions Jan. 14 as the district investigated an allegation that school officials would not disclose.

The district has concluded that investigation. Superintendent Mark Holtzman declined to share specifics.

“There was really nothing more,” Holtzman said.

The board voted to accept Swan’s resignation as coach on Jan. 21. The board will vote next week to accept Swan’s resignation as guidance counselor.

Holtzman said the district solicitor is drafting a separation agreement for Swan’s retirement. Swan received $92,791 in compensation during the 2022-23 school year, according to an online database of Pennsylvania education spending.

“The kids had a tough end to the year,” Holtzman said, referring to the basketball team. “It’s a tough situation. We’re wrapping that up, moving on from that.”

The school postponed a basketball game last month after Swan’s placement on administrative leave. Assistant coach Mark Katarski filled in as interim coach for the final eight games of the season. It was his first season with the Spartans.

Hempfield defeated Norwin Friday night, 49-32, ending the season with a 9-12 record in Section 2-6A.

Swan first joined Hempfield in 2001 but was fired in May 2009 after a player’s father complained to the school board that the coach had benched and cursed at a player during the 2008-09 basketball season. The district hired an attorney to investigate the complaint.

Greg Meisner, the athletic director at the time, completed a 13-page evaluation of Swan in 2008 — which resulted in the board ordering Swan to take anger management classes.

Swan later filed a grievance against the district, which settled with Swan in September 2010. The district paid Swan $14,000, contributing to a nearly $22,000 payment for the legal proceedings.

In the settlement, Swan agreed not to apply for a future Hempifeld coaching position or file an age discrimination lawsuit against the district.

He was rehired as high school boys head basketball coach in August 2014, according to school board meeting minutes.

Diane Ciabattoni, who has served on the school board for about 32 years, said Swan did not apply for the coaching position, but was asked by the district to return to the job.