A hearing date for former Kaua‘i High School head football coach Keli‘i Morgado in his lawsuit concerning the coaching contract he had with the high school could be set as early as today. Morgado and his lawyer announced yesterday during
A hearing date for former Kaua‘i High School head football coach Keli‘i Morgado in his lawsuit concerning the coaching contract he had with the high school could be set as early as today.
Morgado and his lawyer announced yesterday during a radio conference that they drafted, filed and served a lawsuit seeking one of the following: either Kaua‘i High School reinstate the original offer to renew Morgado’s contract or re-open the hiring process.
Seitz had met with state department of education official weeks prior to drafting the lawsuit, but no resolution was met.
“They were prepared to hire him and did a 180 degree turn the next day,” Seitz said in regards to the meetings Morgado had with the school administration. “They’re entitled to evaluate their coaches and there was no question coach Morgado met those expectations. The only people who didn’t like him, apparently, were in the administration.”
In February, all coaches had to reapply for their positions. On the day of the deadline, Morgado met with the administration to express his concerns. Morgado was assured that the process of reapplying was simply protocol for the incoming athletic director.
Two weeks later, he was offered to return for the following season, provided he go along with certain contractual stipulations. Morgado was given two weeks to think about it. That time was reduced to one week, then the contract was reneged the next day.
“If one day he’s good enough to be re-hired and somehow that changes the next day?” Seitz said. “There’s got to be some reason behind it. So we’re waiting with bated breath to hear what their reasons are.”
A suit was filed yesterday in Fifth Circuit Court. There was also a separate motion to advance the suit expeditiously.
“It’s horrible in a small community such as this when people have to resolve these types of disputes in court,” Seitz said.
Morgado maintained that this lawsuit is not primarily about getting his job back.
“It’s not so much about the job itself,” he said. “It’s about rights and how you treat people.”
Morgado was a football coach for nearly 11 years, eight as the head coach.
