Gilbert school board asks for report on coach's firing

GILBERT, AZ - Dozens of students and their parents packed the chambers of the Gilbert Public Schools' Governing Board Tuesday night.

They're upset about the firing of Gilbert High School's head football coach.

Based on the turnout at the meeting, a GPS spokesperson tells ABC15 the governing board wants a full report as to why he was fired in the first place.

The parents and students attended the meeting to show their support for fired Gilbert High football coach Leland Rodgers.

Gilbert High fired Rodgers last week for what Rodgers says was an anonymous parent's complaint about harsh treatment of players.

Rodgers denied any inappropriate behavior but was dismissed by the school anyway.

At the meeting Tuesday night, both supporters and opponents of coach Rodgers addressed the board.

"Every single time we're punished, I can't think of anything that would be close to physical and mental abuse," said Gilbert High student Miguel Meza.

"I feel like the coaches were extremely incompetent this year," said an unnamed parent.  "They had favorites on the team no matter how many times those favorites destroyed our chances of winning games."

The report on the coach's firing will be presented at the board's next meeting in January.