Hinsdale (Ill.) South High School basketball players forfeited their game against Providence Catholic High School to attend Tuesday’s board meeting where their coach's job was on the line.
Dozens of athletes of all ages attended the meeting to plead with the board to keep coach Mike Belcaster on the court.
"He would fight for us no matter what would happen, and this is us fighting for him," Ayden Farrare, a Hinsdale South High School student, told Fox 32.
"I was really nervous coming up to speak, I was really hoping for him to come back, and hearing him coming back was great, especially before our rivalry game on Thursday," said Matthew Peczulis, Hinsdale South High School student.
Hinsdale players said they only found out Belcaster's job was on the line on Monday, and parents said there was little communication from the district.
The move comes after the parent of a senior sued last fall after Belcaster cut her son from the team following tryouts. Erin Savage alleged that her son being cut from the team was an act of retaliation after her son accused former head coach Michael Moretti of verbal abuse.
Moretti was eventually demoted and Belcaster was promoted to head coach. Savage’s son, who is on the starting lineup, was reinstated by the board in November. He was not in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting.
Parents who attended the meeting said there hadn't been any other issues since Belcaster became coach, which was why it was surprising to them that his job was on the line.
"It's very telling that if you look around this room, you've got all grades represented, a lot of families represented, who are very passionate about this thing, and I think that’s probably the best example as to the impact that Coach Belcaster's had on this particular community," said parent Koshy Tveli.
After about an hour of closed session deliberations, the board ultimately decided not to place Belcaster on administrative leave, saying he could resume his regular duties.
