Newburgh (N.Y.) Free Academy has reinstated head football coach Bill Bianco, as well as his assistant coaches, after the entire staff was terminated following a fight that took place between players during practice late in the 2024 season.
According to the Times Herald-Record, Bianco took action following the fight, which left one student injured and a number of players were suspended. School officials at the time forced Newburgh to forfeit one regular-season game, as well as a playoff game.
Bianco and his staff were relieved of their coaching duties on Feb. 26.
Superintendent Dr. Lisa Buon receieved swift backlash from the community for the decision to dismiss the football coaching staff. The school board of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District on Tuesday evening voted unanimously to reinstate Bianco and his assistant coaches.
Matt Lawrence, the team's public address announcer for over 30 years, blamed the district for shortcomings that led to the fight, including leaving over 100 athletes without a locker room in the midst of a season, as well as for a lack of school security in certain areas on campus, including where the fight took place.
"This district's corrective action plan now consists of blame the coaches for the lack of supervision, cancel this season and punish the players for the actions of a few,'' Lawerence told the board meeting. "Every single person standing or sitting in front of me has some responsibility for the failure in this incident. To lay blame solely on the football coaches is unjustified ... there is plenty of blame to go around.''
Lawrence asked the board to reinstate the coaches.
"Make this a teachable moment and put back the coaches, who have also learned from this,'' Lawrence said before the vote. "We can all do better, but blaming the coaches for the district's lack of planning is not the answer.''
Parent Jim Rafferty read a letter from his son, a senior football player at the school.
"As a former player under the head coach, I can say unequivocally that he is the best thing to ever happen to Newburgh football," Rafferty read. "The head coach consistently goes above and beyond his duties as a coach, treating every player as if they were his own child. His dedication extends far beyond the football field.''
