NILES — Parents and community members voiced worry about the timeline of hiring a new football coach as the resignation of their old one was made official on Tuesday.

The Niles Board of Education formally accepted the resignation of head football coach Thomas Sporich four days after he resigned amid speculation that he made an inappropriate comment regarding a girl student at the school.

He acknowledged the wrongdoing and apologized for his actions on Sunday.

Board president Kimberly Barrell read a statement to students, families and the community on behalf of the board, apologizing for Sporich’s message that old school behavior is “somehow excusable.”

Barrell said the message does not reflect the district’s values and will not be tolerated.

“As leaders, it is our responsibility to uphold a standard of excellence, one that prioritizes respect, safety and the well-being of every student,” Barrell said. “Please note that we are actively working to support our student athletes during this time.”

Barrell said athletic director Chuck Schiffhauer is coordinating with middle school coaches to ensure high school athletes have appropriate opportunities to train and prepare.

She said the head football coach position has been posted, and the board is committed to filling it as “quickly and thoughtfully” as possible.

Barrell said the board is committed to ensuring Sporich’s case is an isolated incident, adding that safeguards are in place to support safe and effective practices.

“All staff or athletic coaches will participate in ongoing professional development and compliance training, reinforcing the district’s commitment to continuous learning and adherences to best practices,” Barrell said.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Lena Holloway, a parent of an incoming freshman, said her child was “hopeful” about Niles having a strong football program in 2026.

She expressed concern for the hiring process, acknowledging that it has been posted publicly but left open until April 6 — allowing a two-week public application window when internal candidates were only given one week.

Holloway said the decision doesn’t seem to support the students’ or the program’s immediate needs, as the timeline also overlaps with spring break, when staff may be unavailable.

“If applications are not reviewed, and interviews are not conducted during that time and effectively extends the process even further,” Holloway said. “That results in several additional weeks without leadership for the team. Each week without a head coach is a missed opportunity for player development, organization and retention.”

Concerns already have been expressed about players leaving the district since Sporich’s resignation, Holloway said.

“Delays in hiring only increase the risk of losing more student athletes to other programs,” Holloway said. “I strongly urge the district to consider expediting the process.”

Jason Lehman, a parent of another student-athlete, said he wasn’t going to speak about preference or process — but about the uncertainty and the urge to act on it.

Lehman said Sporich’s hiring in January created the expectation of stability that is now gone, adding that they were in the midst of an abnormal hiring situation.

“It’s March, it’s late March. Our program is facing extraordinary circumstances, is unstable and every day without leadership increases uncertainty. These extraordinary circumstances call for immediate and decisive action,” Lehman said. “Student athletes don’t know who their leader will be. Families do not know what direction the program is going. There’s no clear voice, no clear plan and no clear timeline.”

Lehman said people begin to look for certainty elsewhere when uncertainty exists, adding that the head coach position has stopped being about picking the perfect candidate and whether there will be a football program left to lead.

Lehman said a decision not being made until April 23 leaves nearly a full month of continued uncertainty, which has consequences.

“Student athletes without leadership raises questions within the community, challenges what this program is expected to stand for — stability, accountability, strong leadership and community pride,” Lehman said.

Lehman said a new coach needs to be hired within the next seven to 10 days, and it needs to be someone who can stabilize the program and give families a reason to believe in where it is going.

“Without urgency being matched with action, the message being sent by this group — whether intended or not — is that uncertainty is being allowed to continue,” Lehman said. “If that continues, the outcome will not just be a delayed hire; it will be a program that has been allowed to drift aimlessly.”