LIVONIA, Mich. — David Chiola, a longtime wrestling coach at Livonia Franklin High School, is speaking out exclusively to Dave Bondy after what he describes as a sudden and unexpected dismissal. Chiola, who coached for over 24 years and retired from teaching last year, was informed he was being terminated the day before Halloween.
Chiola, who continued to coach while working as a substitute teacher, said he received a phone call from the school’s athletic director on a Friday while subbing at Livonia Stevenson High School. The conversation, conducted during the last few minutes of class, was about a transgender student joining the team. Chiola stated that he had no issues with the student, who had previously been on the middle school team. He mentioned that the call might have been overheard by students, which he believes led to misunderstandings and his subsequent firing.
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“I was on my phone, maybe talking too loud,” Chiola said. “Some students overheard parts of the conversation and reported it out of context to the administration. The assistant principal got involved, and it escalated from there.”’
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The School District released the following statement—-
“It has come to our attention that many false rumors are circulating on social media and within our community regarding the circumstances surrounding the recent termination of the Franklin High School Wrestling Coach.
Simply stated, social media commentary has painted an inaccurate and misinformed depiction of the situation. Accusations suggesting that the termination decision was premised, in any way, on the handling of supports for a transgender student-athlete have been spread without any basis in fact. Such false allegations are reckless and are made without any apparent concern for the damage that may be caused to the students and/or staff of Livonia Public Schools. While we do not share specifics of personnel decisions publicly, we can unequivocally assert that the employment action taken in this case was not, in any way, based upon any disagreement between LPS and the Wrestling Coach regarding the use of facilities by any student-athlete.”
— Livonia Public Schools
By the following Wednesday, Chiola was called into the athletic director’s office and told he was being let go. He expressed confusion over the decision, saying he was not provided with a clear reason. “They used words like ‘liability’ and mentioned an inability to follow procedure, but I never signed anything or got an explanation,” Chiola said.
This firing follows other incidents in Chiola’s coaching career that he believes show a pattern of decisions made without due process. He recounted a suspension six years ago after a wrestler received a concussion during a scrimmage and was sent to a doctor but later sustained another injury after being cleared. Another instance involved a misunderstanding over a texted lineup that was reported as unethical behavior.
Chiola defended his coaching style as “blunt and straightforward,” noting that he holds all athletes to the same standards regardless of gender or background. “If a kid knows you care about them, you can be honest with them, and they will respond,” he said. He denied any allegations of inappropriate or discriminatory behavior and stated, “I treat every athlete the same, whether they’re male, female, or transgender.”
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Despite his dismissal, Chiola expressed support for the new coaching staff, which consists of members he originally assembled. He plans to attend the upcoming school board meeting to voice his concerns about how the situation was handled.
“I won’t get my job back, but I don’t want my name dragged through the mud,” Chiola said. “I hope the board and the community understand that my intent was always in the best interest of the students.”
