Suspended Liberty coach Kevin Alexander received highest marks on 2023 performance review
Olentangy Liberty hockey coach Kevin Alexander, who along with two assistant coaches was placed on paid administrative leave last week while the school district investigates unspecified allegations, received a glowing performance review after guiding his team to the 2023 state championship, according to his personnel file.
The file also contains a "documented warning" that Alexander received in 2018 for "using inappropriate language." It was the only such warning in Alexander's 160-page personnel file, a copy of which Olentangy Schools emailed to The Dispatch on Monday in response to a public records request.
Alexander's lawyer, Josh Fravel, told The Dispatch that he also received his client's personnel file from the school district Monday and had a discussion with the school board’s legal counsel.
"Other than that, no comment," Fravel said. "We’re waiting to see how it all plays out."
The school district sent the personnel files of assistant coaches Darwin McClelland and Richard Smith to The Dispatch as well. McClelland's file notes he resigned Wednesday, effective immediately, and that his resignation had been accepted.
A message seeking comment was left Monday night at a Powell phone listing for a Darwin McClelland.
Each personnel file includes a letter from Nancy Freese, the school district's chief human resources officer, stating the coach had been placed on paid administrative leave effective Feb. 20 "based on allegations of your professional conduct." The specifics of the accused conduct are not laid out.
Each letter is dated Feb. 21 and says no contact is permitted with district staff, students or parents "until further notice." The one exception is that communication was permitted with human resources.
In a performance review dated March 28, 2023, and signed by Liberty athletic director Darin Meeker, Alexander received the two highest ratings – "Accomplished" or "Skilled" – in every evaluated category.
In rating Alexander's overall performance for the 2022-23 season, Meeker wrote: "Coach Alexander had an extraordinarily special season leading our program to heights that have never before been achieved by any public high school in the state! ... The structure and stability he has put in place with his coaching staff is clearly evident. His emphasis on a team-centered culture and making this experience more than just about oneself has positively impacted the program and certainly led to (its) overall successes. This historic season broke every school record that existed and more importantly, it was done in a very respectable manner!"
Liberty became the first central Ohio hockey team to win the OHSAA championship, defeating Hunting Valley University School 6-2 at Nationwide Arena to cap off a 39-1-1 season.
On Feb. 22, 2018, Alexander attended a meeting with then-Olentangy principal William Warfield, Meeker and Freese. In the meeting, Alexander "admitted to using inappropriate language in the presence of but not directed to student athletes," according to the "documented warning" dated Feb. 28, 2018.
"I sincerely hope that the use of inappropriate language will not be repeated," Warfield wrote in the warning. "I am also specifically directing you to use sound judgment when communicating with students, and I am directing you to do so on a continued and sustained basis. However, if you engage in any further unprofessional or unethical behavior, violate Olentangy Board policy, or do not follow an administrative directive, you will face disciplinary action up to and/or including termination."
In a letter sent to Liberty hockey parents on Feb. 20, principal Mike Starner wrote that Alexander, McClelland and Smith had been placed on leave. The letter also said assistant coaches Ryan Welsh and Jonathan Falvo would serve as interim coaches in addition to their roles coaching the junior varsity.
The Patriots are 24-10-0-1 and the No. 1 seed in the regional tournament. They beat No. 13 Thomas Worthington 5-1 and No. 4 Olentangy Berlin 6-2 over the weekend, advancing to Saturday's regional final against No. 2 St. Charles at OhioHealth Ice Haus. The winner advances to a state semifinal March 8.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Liberty hockey assistant resigns, head coach still under investigation
