Policy That Could Force 8-Time State Champ Off Field Remains In Place

A controversial district policy that could prevent one of the winningest coaches in the history of New Jersey high school football from taking this field this fall remains in effect after a tense Board of Education meeting Thursday night.

Dozens of people packed into the council chambers to show their support for Wayne Hills football coach Chris Olsen, who could be forced in July to choose between his powerhouse football team and his job as athletic director.

The board approved a policy last month that prohibits administrators and supervisors from coaching sports teams or acting as advisors to any athletic or extra-curricular program.

The Board said in November that it would address such conflicts after Olsen permitted nine Wayne Hills football players to participate in two state playoff games after they were charged with attacking two Wayne Valley High School students Oct. 29.

The Board eventually suspended the players for the state championship game, and an administrative law judge upheld the decision. Hills won an eighth group state championship in early December despite the players being banned from the game.

Olsen’s son, Kevin, who quaterbacks the Hills team and has been recruited by some of the top college football programs in the country, said that he would not play his senior season if his “father, coach and best friend,” is not alongside him.

“People think of [him] as a mean, tough coach. That couldn’t be farther from the truth,” Kevin Olsen said. “You’ll never know what kind of person he is until you play for him.”

The policy could also impact Wayne Valley Athletic Director Dan Kilday, who coaches soccer. Both men earn just over $120,000, public salary records show.

Olsen’s wife Susan said her husband does both of his jobs “with passion” and that she feels the town has “turned it’s back” on the football players.

An online petition launched in the wake of the board decision last month has already gathered 544 signatures.

Some attendees Thursday asked that the board “grandfather” Olsen and Kilday.

“The man is passionate,” said Clare Levine. “This man has made a difference in a lot of people’s lives and I don’t see a reason for that to change.”

Lori Lane, who helps run the Wayne Hills football team’s booster club, said Olsen is a “first-class, stand-up gentleman.”

Others, however, criticized the board for the way it handled the situation.

“From the beginning there’s been some missteps. ... It’s been handled in the wrong way,” said Tom Ramsey. “Let’s show our kids we’re better than this.”

As the meeting wound down, board president Donald Pavlak Jr. asked for motion to reconsider the policy, but no board member made a motion.

“The policy stands as-is because there was no motion and no second,” said Board member Robert Ceberio. “Under Robert’s Rules of Order, as the chair of the meeting, [Pavlak] cannot make a motion or second a motion.”

The meeting adjourned to shouts of “terrible” and “see you at election time.”