Decision on coach expected next week
BUTLER TWP — A decision about longtime Butler High School girls’ basketball coach Dorothea Epps likely will be made next week by the Butler School Board.
Several parents of players came to the board meeting Monday night to ask the board about the status of the coach.
Board members in March approved the Pittsburgh law firm of JonesPassodelis to do an investigation of Epps for the district not to exceed $20,000. A representative of that firm will meet with board members next week in executive session to discuss those findings.
The board said a decision on Epps is expected at its meeting Monday.
“Typically the report itself is not released. That would be up to the board, though. But typically, it’s not under the Sunshine Act, and the investigation is not a public record,” said Tom King, district solicitor, Monday night.
Joe Marak said, “That investigation has to be completed by now. We still don’t have a coach. They’re (the players) not in the gym. They’re not in summer leagues. It’s affecting them.
“We need an answer. These girls need to have a coach. If you’re getting rid of her, get rid of her. Whatever you got to do, please do something.”
Another parent, Don Gage, said the students are missing out as a result of the inaction by the board.
“These girls that want to play basketball are sitting. They get in the gym a couple times a week, but that’s not what they need to be doing,” he said.
“You’re going to have a young team next year, and I don’t want to hear that they’re bad players. It’s bad preparation.
Gage said, “They’ve been out of the gym for 70 days while their opponents are in the gym. They missed two summer leagues. There’s supposed to be a team camp scheduled this month. That can’t be scheduled now.”
Parents of basketball players spoke at a school board meeting in January about Epps, who has been the head coach since 2003.
The board has met in executive session several times with basketball parents, students and Epps.
The board decided to start an investigation after receiving complaints by parents of players.
Previously an assistant coach, Epps has been Butler’s head girls basketball coach for 12 years. Her teams won 59 of 72 games from 2007-10, but failed to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs four times in the past five years.
Butler was 7-15 last year.
