Dr. Todd Jochem, the former quarterback's coach at Pine-Richland, reacted to the reports that the firing of head football coach Eric Kasperowicz was due to alleged hazing or bullying in the program. He says it didn't happen.
Jochem told Marty Griffin on News Radio KDKA that he's never been aware of any incidents of bullying.
"In my ten years there, which was before Coach Kasper and with Coach Kasper, I never saw any hazing or bullying. On the football team and frankly, with my children being in school there, you see people get in disagreements and each and every time, we addressed everything. Completely," he said.
"I never had a parent come to me and say 'hey, my child's getting bullied'. I never had a player come to me and say 'hey, I'm getting bullied, coach'. It's like trying to prove the negative. It didn't happen. I didn't see it. No one saw it," he continued.
Kasperowicz and his coaching staff, including Dr. Jochem, were notified via email Wednesday that their contracts were not being renewed.
The only public statement that Kasperowicz has made since came Thursday morning stating "I am disappointed by this decision and want to unequivocally state that no bullying or hazing took place in the Pine-Richland football program under my watch.
"I never condoned any bullying or hazing. If I became aware of any such claims I met with the individuals and immediately put and end to it. I addressed and resolved these infrequent events over my 8 year tenure internally within the team. The players and coaches were made aware of my zero tolerance for this type of behavior.
"Certainly if bullying or hazing had occurred under my watch, I would have followed proper reporting procedures as I have always done throughout my professional career.
"I want to thank all of my supporters who know the safety and well being of students is and will always be my utmost priority."
Jochem told Marty Griffin that 100 percent stands by Kasperowicz's statement.
Some have called the firing of Kasperowicz a "witch hunt." Jochem agrees with that assessment. "I believe, if there's ever a time to use 'witch hunt,' it's now. I believe what myself and 9, 10, 11 other coaches heard, was pretty clear that there are personal matters that are affecting these decisions that, frankly, any person much less a school administrator shouldn't have."
When asked if he believed that the Superintendent had personal issues with the coach, Jochem said "My belief certainly is the Assistant Superintendent who said he hated Eric Kasperowicz and wanted him fired has some sort of personal issue. When you're the leader of an organization, the people under you are your responsibility so I think that does transfer up to the Superintendent and to the, frankly, to the school board."
Jochem said the comments about the Assistant Superintendent hating the coach were told to him by Sean Simmons, the Athletic Director.
Jochem said what the administrators are trying to do amounts to bullying.
Kasperowicz lead the Pine-Richland Rams to a State Championship last fall and many in the district are upset about the firing.
Friday morning, players, students and parents protested the firing outside of Pine-Richland High School.
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Supporters of the coaches are hoping to have the coaches reinstated.
If given the opportunity to return, Jochem thinks Kasperowicz would. "I can't speak definitively for him, but I believe the answer is yes. I know the coaches I've talked to - we want to return, but we can't return in these circumstances."