Coaches Suspended After Charity Event, Teachers Group Protests

Two Hudson Valley coaches have been suspended for an alleged clerical error related to a charity event, but a teachers organization is crying foul. New York State United Teachers is calling for an investigation into the suspension of two lower Hudson Valley basketball coaches whose teams played in a charity game to support an organization that helps LGBTQ students, and questioned whether discrimination and homophobia were behind the disciplinary action.

In a letter to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, NYSUT President Andy Pallotta demanded the immediate reinstatement of openly gay Saunders High School (Yonkers) basketball Coach Anthony Nicodemo and Somers High School Coach Chris DiCintio.

Section One Executive Director Jen Simmons suspended the two coaches for their role in a Jan. 20 “Pride on the Court” basketball game, which raised $800 for the Hudson Valley chapter of GLSEN, citing what appears to be a minor clerical error.

“It is outrageous — and contrary to the lessons of fairness and sportsmanship that educators stress every day — for [Simmons] to, more than one month later, suspend Nicodemo and DiCintio for what appears to be an inadvertent clerical error not of their own making,” Pallotta said, adding the suspension “raises serious questions about whether their punishment was discriminatory in nature.”

“As the state sanctioning body for high school sports, the NYS Public High School Athletic Association should support community-wide events that celebrate diversity and inclusion and raise money for volunteer groups that fight discrimination,” Pallotta said.

The game drew support from Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in the NBA, who praised the teams and participated in the game.

NYSUT logo.