High school notebook: Phil Ingersoll files age discrimination suit against OKCPS

The suit is in regard to Ingersoll accepting an offer to become the basketball coach at Douglass High School in June, then having the offer rescinded less than a week later.

In paperwork filed Oct. 5 with the EEOC, Ingersoll, age 59, says he met with OKCPS Superintendent Karl Springer in June to inquire about the reason for the offer being rescinded and Springer told him it was due to the “‘totality of our relationship,' which he declined to elaborate on. No reason was given for hiring a younger, less experienced person for the job.”

Ingersoll told The Oklahoman Tuesday that “my attorney and I did not feel that was an adequate explanation.”

Anthony Andrews, 49, was hired in July as the Douglass coach. Previously, he was the head coach at the Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, Tenn., and he coached travel teams on the summer circuit. He most recently had worked as an assistant coach at Newcastle.

“As of (Tuesday), the Oklahoma City Public School District administration has not been served with a lawsuit from Phil Ingersoll alleging discrimination,” Springer said.

SHAWNEE COMING OFF KEY WIN

Despite a 2-4 record to this point, the playoffs aren't out of the question for Shawnee in its return to Class 5A this season.

The Wolves defeated Skiatook 51-0 Friday, a game they needed to win to stay in the hunt. Currently, Shawnee, Tulsa Hale and Durant are tied for fourth at 1-2 in 5A-3 play. And 0-3 Noble could be in the mix after playing the toughest portion of its district schedule the last three weeks.

The Wolves exploded on Skiatook on Friday, when Kendall Gilbert returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. He later caught a TD pass, and quarterback John Jacobs added a pair of rushing touchdowns.