JaMarr BillmanWhile most of the amateur wrestling community was focused on the 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Cleveland -- and post-event coverage -- there have been new developments regarding JaMarr Billman and his position as head wrestling coach at his high school alma mater, as wrestlers, the local chapter of the NAACP, and local newspapers have weighed in on his behalf.
First, some background. Billman had been head coach at Easton Area High School for the past two years until being told his contract -- along with the rest of his coaching staff -- had not be renewed on Tuesday, March 15.
However, by the end of the week, the three-time NCAA All-American wrestler at Penn State and Lock Haven announced he would remain coach of the Red Rovers.
Friday night (May 16), Billman posted on Facebook saying that Easton school district Superintendent John Reinhart had overturned the athletic director's decision and will recommend that Billman return next season.
LehighValleyLive.com reported that Billman had met with Reinhart that Friday afternoon to discuss his job. He got word about 10:30 p.m. Friday that the superintendent wanted him back.
"We're ecstatic, happy, proud, just overwhelmed," Billman said on the Facebook live broadcast announcing his return.
As head coach at Easton, Billman compiled an overall record of 24-13 overall, 13-5 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. The Red Rovers claimed two District 11 Class 3A champions this past year: Jonathan Miers (132 pounds) and Jonathan Pineda (285). However, the traditional powerhouse mat program went without a state medalist for the second straight season for the first time since 1967.
Neither Billman nor the administrators acknowledged why Billman was not invited back to coach. The decision came four days after an Easton wrestler -- Jonathan Miers -- failed to make weight for the finals and was disqualified from the state championships.
Students, wrestlers, then NAACP protest Billman's situation
Prior to the announcement that coach Billman had been reinstated, students had protested on the coach's behalf, with a number of Easton wrestlers placing their jerseys and other sports apparel on the doorstep of the office of the school's Athletic Director Jim Pokrivsak.
Then, at a meeting of the Easton school board on Tuesday, March 20, representatives from the Easton branch of the NAACP called for the firing of Easton Area High School's AD along with principal Kyle Geiger for their alleged roles in the dismissal of varsity wrestling coach JaMarr Billman the previous week.
Marvin Boyer, political action chairman for Easton's NAACP, provided details of an incident March 10 involving Billman being attacked verbally and physically by family members of a wrestler who failed to make weight on the last day of the 2018 PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) Wrestling Championships, the Morning Call reported.
According to Boyer, some members of that wrestler's family "became enraged" and started calling Billman names, swearing at him.
"The wrestler's grandfather went so far as to choke Mr. Billman, used racial epitaphs, called him [the N-word], threatened his life.
"Throughout the verbal and physical assault, Billman remained calm and reported the incident to his direct supervisor, the athletic director, shortly after the incident."
According to Boyer, Billman had shouldered the blame when the wrestler failed to make weight.
Boyer claimed that Pokrivsak and Geiger did not provide school district Superintendent John Reinhart and Chief Operating Officer Michael Simonetta with full details of the event. Billman met with Reinhart and Simonetta the previous Friday after being informed his contract was not being renewed, and reportedly shared details of the incident with the two administrators. A few hours later, Reinhart reinstated Billman.
Boyer went on to say that Billman nor his assistants and all the witnesses [to the March 10 events] were never interviewed by the athletic director or principal before the decision regarding Billman's future was made.
"It can be inferred that [Geiger's and Pokrivsak's] actions were deceptive, which lends credence to Billman's claim that he has a hostile work environment and is being discriminated against," Boyer told the school board.
"The NAACP believes Billman's job will remain in jeopardy as long as he reports to the current athletic director and principal."
"I hope that the [Easton school board] terminates the athletic director and principal considering their egregious actions," Boyer concluded.
Boyer was not the only individual to speak on Billman's behalf.
A number of Easton wrestlers who witnessed the reported incident at the state championships at Hershey's Giant Center also spoke to the school board.
Local media weighs in on Billman situation
In recent days, local newspapers have offered opinions on what happened to JaMarr Billman.
Here is a portion of the editorial in the Express-Times: www.lehighvalleylive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2018/03/firing_rehiring_of_easton_wres.html
"The abrupt firing and reinstatement of JaMarr Billman as Easton Area High School's wrestling coach was nothing short of a wild 'scramble' -- the situation in which two wrestlers are jockeying for control, the action gets unpredictable and tensions run high in the stands. That can be fun and instructive on the mat, but it's no way for school administrators to make personnel decisions.
"Billman and the rest of the coaching staff were informed after this year's PIAA state tournament that their contracts would not be renewed for 2018, on the heels of a state tournament in which Easton wrestlers failed to make the medals stand, despite having two District XI champions.
"The other part of the story is that an Easton wrestler failed to make weight at the state tourney, for which Billman accepted responsibility, rightly or wrongly.
"But that's hardly the end of the controversy. After the wrestler was ruled ineligible, Billman allegedly was attacked, verbally and physically, by a relative of the wrestler. That exchange reportedly included a racial epithet directed at Billman, who is black…"
"The reversal (of the decision not to renew Billman's contract) didn't settle the issue for members of the Easton chapter of the NAACP and others, who gave the school board an earful Tuesday night, questioning whether Billman's hasty firing was influenced by racism.
"Neither Billman nor administrators have commented publicly on the issue, but it's apparent that fan and parental pressure influenced a rash decision. In contrast, Billman acted with restraint and calmness in a trying situation -- and in fact, was a victim if he was assaulted.
"A personnel decision at this level -- especially in the emotional cauldron of a disappointing postseason -- requires thoughtfulness and a consensus among top administrators. That it didn't follow that process is a breakdown in leadership. The person or persons responsible should be held accountable..."
"Regardless of the high bar of expectation in Easton's storied wrestling program, this was a disgraceful rush to judgment of an honorable man and coach. At least it was rectified."
Tom Housenick of the Morning Call shared his account of the situation, then weighed in with his assessment.
"… There is no doubt the school board has a tremendous task ahead of it in the coming days and weeks.
"One thing is clear, though: It must send a message to the community that it will not tolerate the actions, or in some cases, the inaction of administrators whose responsibility it is to protect its employees.
"After (Jonathan) Miers did not make weight the morning of March 10, Billman took full responsibility with the wrestler's parents.
"There may have been confusion regarding the weight allowances.
"For decades, there have been only two 1-pound weight allowances granted at the PIAA Wrestling Championships. Those allowances usually are on the second and third days of the event, but because the weather forecast closed many schools on Wednesday, March 7, and thus wrestlers couldn't practice, the allowances were on the first and second days.
"If Billman and his staff did not remind Miers of these rules, it is their mistake.
"It is, however, in no way a fireable offense.
"It certainly does not justify verbal or physical abuse from anyone, if that occurred as alleged…"
"On Wednesday, March 14, (Easton AD) Jim Pokrivsak informed Billman that his contract and
those of his staff were not being renewed. This decision was made without any Easton administrator interviewing Billman, his staff or other witnesses to the alleged incidents on March 10, Boyer said at the school board meeting.
"On March 16, Billman met with school district Superintendent John Reinhart and Chief Operating Officer Michael Simonetta. A few hours later, Billman and his staff were reinstated.
"The NAACP , many of Billman's wrestlers and the community demanded more action during Tuesday's school board meeting.
"They deserve more if the details of the events earlier this month are accurate.
"First, Miers' grandfather, if he is guilty of what is alleged, should be banned from future Easton athletic events.
"As a parent, I understand the emotions that swell inside when children and grandchildren are competing.
"Parents can have conversations with their children's coaches, but it can never escalate to what is alleged here.
"Easton school officials need to make it clear to coaches that they have their full support.
"Miers is known as a tough-as-nails wrestler on the mat. He also is well-respected by his teammates, his coaches as well as opponents and other area coaches.
"I'm sure Billman is hopeful Miers and all of Easton's underclassman wrestlers can return to normalcy, and likewise the entire Easton program.
"Getting to know Billman the last two years, I think his goal for all Easton wrestlers is to help make them become better young men.
"The two-time PIAA champion and three-time Division I college All-American and his staff know they are employed to improve the athlete's wrestling skills, but they see their roles are significantly more important than that."
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