Six years after successful Highland High School football coach Thomas E. Kingsford was fired amid allegations of financial wrongdoing, he has received word that his 11-year career was ended unfairly.
Jurors Wednesday night awarded Kingsford $275,000 in damages for his claims that Salt Lake City School District officials and former principal Charles Shackett violated his constitutional right to equal protection, breached an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and cast him in a false light.
"We sent a message that coaches are not pieces of meat that should be discarded on a whim," Kingsford said following the verdict. "I got my name cleared. That's the most important thing."
During closing arguments in the nearly three-week trial, attorney Stanley Preston suggested the eight-woman, four-man jury award Kingsford $2,000 a day for the damages he has suffered in the past six years. The total — $4.4 million — would cover actual salary losses, as well as compensate Kingsford for the perceived damage to his name and reputation.
"His life's dream was taken away from him," Preston said. "You as a jury have the opportunity to restore his name. Your verdict, in favor of Tom Kingsford, can restore his reputation."
Kingsford was terminated in March 1996 after an internal audit allegedly highlighted financial problems in the football program. Kingsford, who remains a math teacher at the high school, argued at trial he never received a "name-clearing hearing."
Following his termination, Kingsford testified that he and his 4-year-old son overheard patrons in a barbershop talking about the situation and discussing how "bad" he was. Others, such as Kingsford's former assistant football coach, testified at trial that the once-respected coach is now viewed as a "thief."
"That's the reputation that Tom Kingsford has had to live with these long six years," Preston said.
In his closing statements to jurors, defense attorney Morris Haggerty questioned Preston's contention that the case was about Kingsford's passion for coaching instead of money.
Haggerty said Kingsford was offered at least two head coaching positions at Utah high schools since 1996. He reportedly turned down one job at West Jordan High School, which would have paid $8,000 to $10,000 less than he received at Highland High.
School district officials maintained coaches, unlike teachers, are at-will employees who can be terminated at any time, for any reason.
But Preston argued Kingsford fell under the state's Orderly Termination Act, which allows non-temporary employees to be released with good cause and entitles them to a due process hearing. The statute established an implied contract for coaching, he said.
Preston also cited an April 1996 team meeting in which Shackett allegedly led players to believe Kingsford was being terminated for stealing money from the program.
Shackett left Highland High in 1996. He is now the superintendent of the Shelley (Idaho) Joint School District No. 60.
Preston also argued that Kingsford was terminated for violating the school's purchasing policies, which others allegedly violated without discipline.
The coach who replaced Kingsford allegedly misused funds for personal travel without reprimand, he said.
Haggerty countered Kingsford had a history of abusing the policies, which is why he was treated differently than the others.
It is unclear whether the jury's verdict also covers attorneys' fees and court costs estimated at a few hundred thousand dollars. Preston said the issue likely will be decided next week.
Contributing: Associated Press
E-mail: awelling@desnews.com