Andover High Students Walk Out To Protest Coach's Firing

ANDOVER, MA — A day after learning that head hockey coach Chris Kuchar would not be asked back next year, close to 200 students at Andover High School walked out of classes Tuesday morning. The protest started with the 11:07 class change bell. Separately, a rock in front of the school was painted overnight with the message "Respect Our Coaches."

The students began chanting "Bring back Kuchar" and "Conrad," in reference to Andover High School Principal Philip T. Conrad. Around 11:45 a.m. they continued their protest and began moving into the athletic fields adjacent to the school.

School department spokesperson Nicole L. Kieser said no students were suspended for participating in the walkout.

"On Tuesday, April 30th, approximately 200 Andover High School students participated in an orderly demonstration during class time," Kieser said. "Students were outside of the building for approximately 45 minutes, and safely reentered the school. APS and AHS respect students’ right to voice their concerns. "

On Monday, Patch reported that Kuchar would not be asked back to coach the hockey team next year. In January 2018, Kuchar and two other coaches were accused of withholding food and water from players. Kuchar and the other two coaches were cleared in an investigation by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, which determined the accusations were unfounded.

Kuchar returned after sitting out to lead the team to the state Super 8 tournament. This year, the team repeated as Merrimack Valley Conference champions and lost in the semi-finals of the Division 1 State Tournament. Kuchar has also been credited for charitable endeavors and for developing players who went on to play in Division I college hockey programs.

Students arrived at school Tuesday to find a rock in front of the school had once again been painted with the "Respect Our Coaches" message. A year ago, when boys volleyball coach E.J. Perry was suspended and details of that suspension were leaked to a newspaper, the slogan became a rallying cry among parents and students who supported Perry and Kuchar. In addition to being painted on the rock, the slogan popped up on lawn signs placed throughout town.

Andover Superintendent Sheldon Berman tried to have Kuchar removed in 2016. Berman asked the athletic director and high school principal to remove Kuchar because the way his son, Dale Haavind-Berman, who played for the team at the time, was treated.

In a six-page letter, Berman said Kuchar's coaching methods were "close to the category of abuse."

"Dale would prefer to forget it all and quit hockey so he didn't have to think about it. However, as a father and a superintendent I can't let this kind of behavior go unaddressed," Berman wrote. "It is my belief that Andover would serve students better with another coach."

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).