Families of HS Football Players Sue School for $30M Over Allegedly Abusive August Practice

Relatives of two former Hoover (Ala.) High School football players this week filed a $30 million lawsuit against the Hoover Board of Education, as well as the school's superintendent, athletic director and two coaches who were accused of abusing players during practice. 

According to the Hoover Sun, the family members claim that former Hoover head coach Drew Gilmer and former defensive coordinator Adam Helms physically or sexually assaulted two of their players during two practices in August, causing the players physical harm and and emotional distress. 

Videos that circulated through national media showed Gilmer apparently pulling a player’s head to his groin and thrusting his hips toward the players’ face after the player had been taken down on the ground by another player. The player later had to seek medical treatment due to injuries to his neck that resulted from the incident, the lawsuit claims. 

“Gilmer and Helms not only inflicted bodily injury on the minors that required medical treatment and care, but D.G. and D.L. [the two minors] are suffering from severe emotional distress and mental anguish,” the lawsuit says. “Both minors shamefully and due to public ridicule and embarrassment went into isolation, afraid to be seen in public.”

Both of the minors have since left Hoover High School and enrolled in other schools where they had no friends or relationships with teachers and staff. 

The lawsuit claims that Gilmer and Helms were acting in their official capacities, and therefore, their employer bears responsibility as well. 

It also claims that the Hoover Board of Education, superintendent Kevin Maddox and athletic director Harley Lamey “failed to conduct a thorough employment history of Gilmer and the numerous complaints against Gilmer and his abusive conduct of student athletes that was well known in the community and at each prior school where he coached. If so, they intentionally ignored the warning signs of Coach Gilmer’s irrational and extensive abusive conduct history and negligently and/or with reckless and wanton behavior chose to hire Gilmer and Helms knowing the risk and foreseeability that Gilmer and Helms’s abusive conduct towards student athletes would result in and cause injury and harm to students as suffered by the minor plaintiffs.

“The negligent hiring and retention sit squarely in the face of the board members, the superintendent and athletic director who acted collectively and individually to hire Gilmer and Helms, who they knew or should have known were physically and mentally abusive to student athletes."

Gilmer and Helms resigned within three days of the second incident after being placed on administrative leave for an investigation into the incidents.

When Gilmer and Helms resigned, the superintendent issued a statement that said “The safety and well-being of our students and staff continue to be our top priorities. We maintain high expectations for our employees and students. At this time, our focus is dedicated to supporting our football players and coaching staff.”