Olentangy Liberty hockey coach Kevin Alexander retains lawyer amid school investigation
Olentangy Liberty hockey coach Kevin Alexander has retained an attorney and said he is seeking details about what led Olentangy Schools to place him on leave.
In a letter sent to the Liberty hockey community, Alexander wrote that as of 2 p.m. Friday, he and his attorney, Josh Fravel, had not been "acknowledged, contacted or advised of anything verbally or in writing" by the school district.
Copies of the letter were posted on social media. In a text Saturday morning to The Dispatch, Alexander confirmed he had written the letter and retained a lawyer.
Liberty athletic director Darin Meeker and Amanda Beeman, assistant director of communications for Olentangy Schools, did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
The school district announced Wednesday that three unnamed Liberty hockey coaches had been placed on leave the day before and that assistant coaches Ryan Welsh and Jonathan Falvo would serve as interim coaches in addition to their roles coaching the junior varsity. The district said it would not comment further.
Alexander guided Liberty to the 2023 state championship, the first OHSAA hockey title won by a central Ohio team. The Patriots (24-10-0-1), the No. 1-seeded team in this year's regional tournament, beat No. 13 Thomas Worthington 5-1 on Saturday and No. 4 Olentangy Berlin 6-2 on Sunday, advancing to the Saturday, March 2, regional final against No. 2 St. Charles at OhioHealth Ice Haus.
In his letter, Alexander said he was on his way to Tuesday's practice when he received a call from Liberty principal Mike Starner, who informed him that Alexander and two assistant coaches were "suspended indefinitely" while a complaint against them was investigated.
Later that day, Alexander said Liberty players and parents forwarded him a school email that said he and assistant coaches Darwin McClelland and Richard Smith had been placed on leave.
On Wednesday, Alexander's attorney emailed Starner and Meeker asking for his client’s "entire employment file," copies of "any complaints made against my client during the course of his employment," the results of the district's investigation and "notice of any hearings on this matter," according to Alexander's letter.
Jacob Kempa, a 2023 graduate and key member of last season’s title team, received the letter from Alexander.
“They are probably the best coaching staff I’ve ever had,” Kempa said. “I’ve gotten chewed out every once in a while, but who hasn’t? That’s why I’ve improved. Over the summers, I worked hard to impress my coaches because I wanted to be the best person I could be for them.
“I talked with coach Alexander. He said he’s doing all right. He’s obviously a little frustrated.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Olentangy Liberty hockey coach hires lawyer amid school investigation
