CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The state’s top-ranked high school basketball team, Chicago’s Curie Condors, are playing without their long-time coach.
Curie Metropolitan High School basketball coach Mike Oliver was removed Wednesday over an allegation that he was involved in an physical altercation with a student.
On Thursday night, the team played without him. And although the team won the game, parents told CBS 2 they want him back.
“Right is right and wrong is wrong, but I don’t think they had to let him go for that,” said parent Michael Johnson. “He’s a great coach. He’s good with the kids.”
Della Lewis, whose son played for Curie, said Coach Oliver "was a mentor to my son, because I was a single parent at that time, and my son transferred in, and he was just a great coach for him. You know, I couldn’t have asked for a better person to be his coach.”
Oliver said the allegation that he was involved in a fight with a student, while working as a security guard is not true.
“I’m their leader,” Oliver said, “and you know, for them to have to deal with type of stuff, I think, is a distraction on the big picture.”
He has been coaching 28 years, building the Curie Condors into an elite basketball program, with state championships and city titles.
He is not out permanently - at least, not yet. CPS is conducting an investigation.