A longtime high school girls’ basketball coach in Georgia may lose his job after failing to produce enough urine for a drug test.
Fred Hill has worked as a coach at North Clayton High School for 25 years. He recently had to break up a fight and was hurt. As a result, he filed a worker’s compensation claim, but in order to do so, he had to submit a urine sample.
According to WSB-TV Atlanta, Hill produced enough urine at the clinic, but when he couldn’t produce a sufficient amount for a second sample, he walked out.
The school says Hill violated his contract and broke the rules when he left.
A number of supporters showed up at Hill’s termination hearing to protest.
“We're talking about ending a 25-year career,” Bourquaye Thomas, Hill’s attorney said.
For its part, the school says Hill knew what he was doing when he walked out.
“He violated this contract that he signed, stating he knew this,” said Janet Scott who is with Clayton County School District.
“I said, ‘I got to go. I got to go.’ She was, like, ‘Just drank this water, boy,’” Hill said during the hearing.
Hill told the panel he had given a sample and that his elderly dad was in the car and had been waiting for a while and was in pain.
“He was in the car so long his back was hurting,” Hill said.
Hill's attorney said the coach gave enough of a sample before leaving. He used two cups of water as an illustration.
If the panel decides to terminate the coach, it will be up to the school board to the decide whether to follow their decision.
