Ex-Hempfield basketball coach to receive $8K until June retirement

Former Hempfield Area guidance counselor and high school boys basketball coach Bill Swan will receive about $8,000 while on paid sick and personal days until his retirement goes into effect in June, according to a separation agreement obtained by TribLive.

Swan was placed on paid administrative leave from his coaching and guidance counselor positions Jan. 14 as the school district and state police investigated an allegation that officials declined to disclose.

The district has concluded that investigation. Superintendent Mark Holtzman previously declined to share specifics with TribLive. Holtzman and school board President Jerry Radebaugh could not be reached for comment .

The board voted to accept Swan’s resignation as coach Jan. 21. Swan’s retirement as guidance counselor goes into effect June 2.

Swan declined to comment on the investigation and the separation agreement, which he signed Feb. 11.

He is prohibited from holding any coaching or extracurricular positions at the district in the future, according to the agreement. He also is not permitted on district property while students are present for the remainder of the school year without the permission of the superintendent.

Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association attorney Melissa Melewsky said this is a common component of separation agreements.

Swan will be permitted to attend public events at the district following his retirement, according to the agreement.

“This agreement does not constitute any admission by Mr. Swan of any violation of the laws of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any other federal, state or local law, regulation, ordinance or order,” the agreement states.

State police investigated a complaint made about Swan, according to Trooper Steve Limani. The details were passed along to Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli’s office, he said.

Ziccarelli’s office did not file criminal charges against Swan, spokesperson Melanie Jones said.

The school district, state police and Ziccarelli’s office declined to share the details of the investigation. TribLive has submitted Right to Know Law requests to the school district and state police for a report of the investigation.

The representative for the Hempfield Area teachers union did not respond to a request for comment.

Swan received $92,791 in compensation during the 2022-23 school year, according to an online database of Pennsylvania education spending.

The school postponed a basketball game in January after Swan was placed on administrative leave. Assistant coach Mark Katarski filled in as interim coach for the final eight games of the season. It was his first season with the Spartans.

Swan first joined Hempfield in 2001 but was fired in May 2009 after a player’s father complained to the school board that the coach had benched and cursed at a player during the 2008-09 basketball season. The district hired an attorney to investigate the complaint.

Greg Meisner, the athletic director at the time, completed a 13-page evaluation of Swan in 2008, which resulted in the board ordering Swan to take anger management classes.

Swan later filed a grievance against the district, which was settled in September 2010. The district paid Swan $14,000, contributing to a nearly $22,000 payment for the legal proceedings.

In the settlement, Swan agreed not to apply for a future Hempfield coaching position or file an age discrimination lawsuit against the district.

He was rehired as high school boys head basketball coach in August 2014, according to school board meeting minutes.

Diane Ciabattoni, who has served on the school board for about 32 years, said Swan did not apply for the coaching position but was asked by the district to return to the job.