Why is Coach Sullivan being forced out of Cooper?

On 3/5/2025 at 3:48 PM, theguru said:

For context, this is what D Lamont Smith posted on Facebook late last year:

I’ve been getting phone calls and text messages with questions of why my daughter is no longer a part of Cooper High School’s basketball team. So I’ll answer that question…

I wanna start by saying I am not a fan of NOT good people, especially to my daughters. This started when my daughter was in 8th grade, the “coach” fabricated a “custom criteria”, specifically for my daughter, to give excuses as to why she couldn’t get an “INVITE” (yep, gotta get invited) to OPEN gym, that either didn’t exist in previous years. Apparently he didn’t know that I knew this was something new, bc girls before her were not subjected to this “criteria”. This was an “unspoken” criteria (from what this “coach” told me)…how convenient? Thanks for letting “little ol’ me” in on your “secret handshake”. I’m not a fan of a “coach” who talks about my daughter to some of her teammates behind her back, but never talking to her. Not a fan of a man with “Mean Girl” ways talking about kids via text, and/or in person with other girls on the team, but never addressing his issues he has with them directly. I’m not sure how someone could think it’s okay being a “mean girl” as a grown man, let alone a “leader”/“coach” of young people.

It’s come to my attention that he told the team that my daughter was no longer on the team, bc I couldn’t follow guidelines. And said my daughter couldn’t follow guidelines either. Anybody who KNOWS me knows that Im a “rule follower”. I don’t even deviate from recipes from food I prepare. Here’s the thing, I’m not a fan of a “coach” who refuses a meeting with my daughter, when she initially requested her father be present. Then after she was denied such a meeting, and was adamant about wanting her father to be presence denied again. So I called a meeting, with him, with my daughter included (“protocol” per team, “Cooper Jaguars Coach-Player-Parent Communications” states “As a parent, if you would like to discuss your daughter’s academics, scheduling conflicts, or any area in which the staff can assist in a player’s growth, we strongly encourage you to reach out. If an issue needs to be discussed a parent and the player must both be present.”), I’m not a fan of a “coach” dodging a meeting with parents, bc he wasn’t pregamed with the context of the meeting (duh, the meeting will have the “context” in it). Essentially this guy didn’t want me to hear any of the [redacted] he was gonna feed my daughter, and point it out to her. Bottom line is “if his lips are moving, he’s lying”. He was exercising his privilege and this “superiority complex” that he has, by denying us the meeting that other parents and players have been given without question.

 After requesting a meeting I’m not a fan of a “coach” catching a “sucka attack” (through text), and jumps on the defensive, telling me “Based on my requests and the information you received at the parent meeting, we will not discuss (playing time, team/game strategy or other members of the team) with parents.” The ONE meeting in the 2 seasons that my daughter has been in this program, with him and his staff has never pertained to any of those, only the treatment of my daughter. My girls will earn they’re playing time/role on any team their on. I’m not a fan of people who draw conclusions and make assumptions and dodge issues. His behavior and attitude is that of being cowardly amongst men, and a “mean girl”/bully of teenage girls.

Shame on Cooper High AD for co-signing the lies about the “fabricated, custom, unspoken criteria”, and even doubling down on the lies after I presented him with the proof that I know they’re lies. Trying to smooth over lies with semantics is crazy to me. I MAY look slow, but I’m not. Newsflash…you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig. After telling the AD and the “coach”, via text, that my daughter was “intimidated”, by the “coach” there was no suggestion of meeting with a parent/player and “coaches” and/or AD meeting. This guy was still was still pressing this meeting with my daughter and the same person she’s intimidated by. Not on my watch. I will ALWAYS put my best foot forward to protect my girl’s mental, emotional and physical health.

This so much more than this. This has been two years of lies, coverups, discrimination, etc. My daughter busted her [redacted] for the Cooper High School program for two seasons. In 8th grade starting freshman, and getting a lot of time on the regional champion jv team. 9th grade starting jv (‘23-‘24 Regional Runner-ups) AND starting freshman (‘23-‘24 Regional Champs)…playing two full games (no other kid in the program was playing two full games a night) on nights when both teams played. Doing two-a-days (freshman and JV/varsity practices) for an entire season. This kid thought two-a-days and two full games a night were normal. One of the top producers on both teams. Only to be lied to, and talked about by the “coach”.

I didn’t tell her anything about what was going on initially, bc I didn’t want to distract her, or have her be as disrespectful to the staff as they were to her. After a meeting with her “coaches” i realized that this wasn’t a good situation. I decided to tell her how she was being treated during the season, and how that wasn’t “normal”. The only reason she wanted to play at Cooper was bc she wanted to play with friends. But when your kid tells you that a coach or staff are making her hate the game it’s time to go.

After meeting with the Principal (Cooper High School Principal) for about 30mins, he completely ignored my concerns about how my daughter was being mischaracterized by a member of administration, mischaracterized and mistreated by the “coach”. Also how the AD supported the lies that were told to me. The principal even sent me an email response in my follow up with him, he “copied and pasted” a new version of one of the lies from the AD (further incriminating himself) using different wording, and further goes to my claim of discrimination. After I established with the principal via email, essentially, that I’m not stupid, and his lack of action were disappointing, I never heard from him again.

The the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion “investigator” for Boone Co Board of Education, who is caucasian, made a mockery of my claims of “Discrimination, lies, and mischaracterization of minorities” against the “coach”, AD, and Principal. She should be ashamed of herself for the “cover up”. Took her 42 days to complete the 30 day, per Boone Co “guidelines”,“investigation” (if that’s what she wants to call it). What’s sketchy is on Day 39 she sent me an email saying “Due to unforeseen circumstances and situations that were out of my control, I do not anticipate the report to be finalized until Thursday.” So After this email on day 39, it left me wondering what were the “unforeseen circumstances and situations that were out of my [her] control” Then she sent a bogus filled report that was completely contradictory from what she was telling me about my claims being serious. After providing her with text, emails, audio, and video supporting my claims, and her “finding of facts” was riddled with opinions and things that never happened. None of my claims were addressed in her “finding of facts”. It was as though they filed a claim against me.

When I submitted the response to the DEI “investigator’s” “finding of facts” (per the 10 days I had to respond) to the (at the time) “superintendent of (Boone Co) schools”, who had 10 days to respond, responded on day 13 of the 10 days he was allotted to review and respond, only AFTER I reached out on that 13th day via email, was when he responded with a letter through “snail mail”, dated that 13th day, agreeing with the DEI “Investigator”. Either he NEVER reviewed any of the documentation provided or just didn’t care.

 For “sweeping my claims under the rug”, my thoughts are, [redacted]…the “coach”, AD, Principal, DEI “Investigator”, and former superintendent don’t “CARE about black people (minorities)”…our concerns…how our kids are treated...don’t care to understand how to communicate with our kids…our kids experiences…etc. They live in a privileged world. This is the “Good Ol’ Boy Network” personified. EVERYBODY listed is part of the problem, definitely not the solution. As a minority, and a parent of a minority child, nobody heard us, nor did they care to hear us.

People who know me, or who have seen me at games know I don’t heckle officials, the other teams, I don’t talk to the our teams “coaches”, I only come support to our team, and I go home. For the “coach” to lie to me wasn’t necessary. I was never a “threat” to him personally, his team, his staff, etc. Well…they got the right one. I’m a present father of girls, and I will defend their rights to be treated equally and OUR name.

Bc I’m a “large” male, with an intimidating stature to some I feel the need to DOCUMENT interactions, so none of my actions or words can be misconstrued. That includes the individuals listed in this post. The scary part about it is these people are texting and emailing with such confidence, bc there have been no consequences to their actions.

Stay tuned…my claims of mistreatment of myself and my daughter have been well documented and will be presented…

D Lamont Smith adding a tiny bit more here with a new post:

Open letter to Princeton High School’s Lady Vikes #15…

I know this season was challenging for you…transferring from a toxic “coach” and administration, leaving friends behind who you’ve known for years, making new friends, learning how to navigate in a new environment, no longer being a “big fish in a small pond” (now you’re “just” a fish), competing to earn mins on the court… All challenges that you learned from, and faced head on. 

I’m so proud of your much improved attitude, and your improved efforts (academically and on the court). You stayed ready when your number was called. You cheered on your teammates when you weren’t on the court. You hustled on the court, even diving for loose balls. I told you about the physicality in Ohio being different from Kentucky…you heard me and responded appropriately??

You notice, I don’t fuss at or heckle the officials, I don’t talk to coaches about playing time, and I keep my opinions to myself. I’m that way on purpose. Like I’ve talked to you about before, the game represents life. You’re always gonna experience up and downs. Calls will be for you and against you. You may not get the time you feel like you earned. The only thing you can control is your response to how you handle adversity, which will ultimately be the foundation of your character, and will equip you for what life has in store for you.

You’ve been on a streak of championship winning teams since 7th grade…
-7th grade 2021-2022 winter travel team had multiple championships (from Pennsylvania to New Jersey to California)
-8th grade, starting freshman and coming off the bench for JV ball, your team won the 2022-2023 Regional JV Championship
-9th grade, when you started on both JV and Freshman, your freshman team won the 2023-2024 Regional Championship (with you earning MVP honors) and your JV team was 2023-2024 Regional Runner Up
-10th grade you won by getting out of a toxic situation, and moving on…
-11th grade, you had to reinvent yourself, discovering where you fit in with this talented group of girls you joined. Now a varsity player, coming off the bench, you are a member of the 2025-2026 GMC Conference (one of the, if not the toughest conference in Ohio??) Championship Team, 2025-2026 District Championship Team, 2025-2026 Regional Champions, and 2025-2026 Ohio State Runner Up.
-12th grade loading…

I remember that other high school “coach” you had sarcastically wishing us “luck”, after dismissing you from the program, because he refused to have the meeting you requested to have with him, bc you requested my presence. After your request was denied I refused to allow him to talk to you outside of my presence. It’s my duty as a father to refuse to have him or any other adult continue to lie to, manipulate, and “bully” my underage daughter. Knowin’ we don’t want, or need that kinda “luck”, because he wasn’t on the same type of time that we’re on. The “luck” he wished us was for our destruction.

Our definition of “Luck” is when preparation meets opportunity. The work you put in during your hiatus in 10th grade (shout-out Keith Braswell, Nadir, and Stephen Graves)…530a workouts at Princeton…the strength and conditioning program you were on (shoutout Chris Gillam)…the mental gymnastics…the continuous, encouraging words you get/got from the good people in your new village at Princeton (I have so much appreciation for your teammates, fans, and parents for accepting you and giving encouraging words)…You were both battle tested and prepared, and capitalized on the opportunities you were given.

Once you embrace the fact that none of us are perfect, and know that mistakes (in life, on the court, in the classroom, etc) will happen and are also a part of life…and you’ll make a lot of them, will you truly begin to understand the purpose of life. At my age, I still make mistakes and decisions that aren’t the best. We learn from our mistakes and poor decisions, correct them, and keep pushin’ forward. 

Again…I can’t verbally express how proud of your improved attitude and improved effort this season…this year. Your growth as a person impresses me most. Through our private conversations of your frustrations, venting sessions, tears, breakdowns, etc. you were able to let it out privately, and handle business when it was time.

Even though you and I don’t always see eye to eye, because we’re from two completely different generations, and of different thought processes, it’s my job to meet you where you are and be here to assist you with your navigation through life. You and I have a father/daughter love and understanding that nobody else is privy to. Understand…your journey is no “better” or “worse” than anyone else’s, but it is different, and it’s YOURS to live and navigate. With the exception of me and your mom, nobody cares more about you than you.

I tell you this all the time “I would never tell you anything that I think would harm or embarrass you”. I love you and your sister with everything in me, and you all’s successes are not only yours but our (mine and your mother’s) successes too.

#15…keep reppin’ the Smith name…keep learning from your mistakes…Keep bein’ yourself…Keep workin’…Keep improving (continue to be a better you today than you were yesterday)…keep bein’ you (RBF and all)…Don’t let nobody stifle who you are or your competitive spirit simply bc they don’t understand you…Work on being accountable, continuously learning and “doin’ better”…Remember “somebody” is always watchin’ you (on and off the court), and are takin’ notice of how you’re movin’ as a person, and as a competitive athlete…Stay focussed on “the main thang”. ..Don’t be distracted by “the noise”…Just know, in life, you’re gonna ALWAYS have to work and earn everything you get from it.

I Love You Mo, 
Pops