BELLEVUE, Wash. — After years in court, a former Bellevue High School football coach has settled a lawsuit against the Washington Inter-scholastic Activities Association (WIAA).
Pat Jones initially sued the WIAA back in 2015 for defamation, as part of "investigations" of potential rule violations, including offseason conditioning violations, by the school's football team.
The Bellevue School District self-reported in 2015 that their coaches were violating an athletic association rule. Jones said he never did which, prompted the defamation lawsuit.
"It matters when you say things about somebody that aren't true... without giving me any info you tell me later I violated some rules and I'm out. I'm not ok with that," Jones told KIRO 7's Deedee Sun Saturday.
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The WIAA released a statement about the settlement, and wouldn't comment beyond that, but their executive director did say the following in the release:
"We also believe that the two-year suspension Mr. Jones served was appropriate given the conduct uncovered by the WIAA investigators and the school district."
Though the lawsuit with the WIAA is over, the Bellevue School District is also part of the suit, and that part of the legal battle is still ongoing.
"I didn't violate the rule and we're going to go to court in April with the Bellevue School District to show that," Jones said.
The WIAA did not pay any money to Jones in the settlement, and Jones said he's not looking for any money from the school district either.
Instead, Jones said he's hoping for policy changes to give coaches and students more of a voice.
Cox Media Group
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