Over one hundred people gathered outside of Pine-Richland district offices Monday to rally for fired football coach Eric Kasperowicz and his staff.
The rally preceded Monday evening's school board meeting almost three weeks after the district decided not to renew Kasperowicz's contract.
The district said results of an investigation into hazing and bullying allegations in the football program led them to their decision.
Several district officials, including school board president Peter Lyons, were forced to walk through the disgruntled crowd to get to the building Monday evening. Most people in the group booed or shook noisemakers.
Eddie Thaner, who said his grandchildren are on the football team, told Lyons to "do the right thing" as the school board president walked inside the district offices.
"If I didn't know a kid here, I'd be here," Thaner said. "I'm a taxpayer. I want the right thing done."
Kasperowicz and his family were among the crowd.
Though Kasperowicz declined media interviews, his parents Mark and Cindy Kasperowicz said the last three weeks have had a lasting impact on their family.
"This is just so upsetting for our family," Cindy Kasperowicz said. "We've reached out to the board, the administration, with no response back to Eric. He's taken it upon himself as if this is his own burden. We've just got to get this straightened out and get these guys back on the field."
A handful of people wearing North Hills gear joined the rally. Kasperowicz is a teacher at North Hills High School.
Cindy Richey lives in the North Hills School District, but is a long-time family friend of the Kasperowicz's.
She said she hopes the rally will play a role in bringing Kasperowicz back as Pine-Richland's head football coach.
"He does want his job back," she said. "He loves it. He loves the kids. If that's what he wants, that's what I want him to have."
Hours before Monday's rally, Kasperowicz released a letter he sent to district administration last week.