Ex-Lehi coach sues parents

LEHI — Former Lehi girls basketball coach Mike O'Connor is suing 31 parents and community members who pushed for his firing in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in 4th District Court.

The lawsuit alleges that parents made accusations about O'Connor that were "untrue and defamatory," and asks that he be awarded $1.5 million from each defendant. His attorney said the decision about whether to file a lawsuit was a difficult, very personal one for the coach and his family.

"This is a story of a guy whose life has been profoundly affected by this," said attorney Joseph Rust. "It's a pretty tough decision, particularly when it's in a small community as this is. Either way, if he sues or doesn't, the situation has had a profound affect on his coaching career."

O'Connor said he decided to sue the parents and principal to set the record straight and stand up for his profession.

"It's a matter of principle," said O'Connor, who is still teaching at the high school. "I felt I had to stand up not just for myself but for other coaches who have had to deal with similar situations. The right thing needs to be done. Coaches everywhere want to be able to do the things they need to to teach and to coach. That's really all we want to do. We love athletics. We love kids."

O'Connor claims the information used to undermine him as coach is untrue and has been spread so widely now that with or without the lawsuit, his reputation is stained.

"The minute it was printed in the paper 'O'Connor Fired,' " he said, "it blackened whatever I do in my life . . . We want the truth to be stated. I was fired without any explanation . . . . I still don't know what I've done."

The lawsuit says that O'Connor was specifically recruited by Lehi High School to move to Utah from California to take over the girls basketball coaching job. It states that when last year's 3A MVP Michelle Harrison began playing as a freshman, which was two years ago, other players became jealous and began gossiping and trying to undermine her with the coach and other parents.

The suit outlines steps O'Connor said he took to deal with the situation and alleges that one parent in particular, Gary Burningham, "began to complain about Plaintiff to Worthington . . . and began to formulate a plan whereby Plaintiff would be terminated as the coach and/or Harrison would be curtailed in her playing opportunities."

Principal Sheldon Worthington, who fired O'Connor, is also named in the suit. The administrator referred any comment about his involvement to the district office, which was closed when the Deseret Morning News learned of the lawsuit.

Three of the parents named in the suit said they were unaware of the suit and hadn't seen it