By Matt de Simone
Last week, Jamie Harless, head coach of Lord Botetourt High School’s football team, sued Roanoke County Superintendent Ken Nicely, School Board member Tim Greenway, and Roanoke County Principals Tammy Newcomb of William Byrd and Jill Green of Northside.
Harless seeks $500,000 in damages “to [Harless’s] reputation in the community and his profession.”
The Roanoke County contingent claims Harless acted in “unsportsmanlike behavior” regarding recruiting. Nicely penned a letter to the Virginia High School League (VHSL) questioning a group of Northside students who transferred to Lord Botetourt over a two-year timespan. Greenway added that, during a telephone call two years ago, Harless stated a desire for one of William Byrd’s football players to play at Lord Botetourt.
Harless claims Greenway’s statement about the phone call to be false and taken out of context.
The lawsuit includes that the VHSL didn’t deem Harless guilty of any “unsportsmanlike recruiting practices.”
When contacted by The Fincastle Herald, Harless did not have comments about the lawsuit stating, “I will let the courthouse do the talking.”
There is not an announced date for a hearing regarding this lawsuit.