Legal Fees For Staples Soccer's Russell Oost-Lievense

We’re raising funds to support Coach Russell Oost-Lievense (“Coach Russ”), the head coach of the Staples High School boys soccer program and a dedicated special education teacher who was unjustly suspended mid-season and then fired. Coach Russ was terminated not for any personal wrongdoing, but for allegedly failing to report a verbal altercation between his assistant coach and a student-athlete, which occurred months earlier, and which the school did little to investigate once an anonymous complaint came in 2 months later. His firing came without due process, despite returning to the school system in which he grew up and serving as a trusted and committed coach for the last 9 years.

What followed was even more disturbing: On May 12th, a 14-hour public hearing, during which the Westport Board of Education refused to let his attorney call any of the 8 proposed witnesses, many of whom could have provided crucial testimony. The hearing revealed that no real investigation was conducted by the school's administrators prior to his firing. This leaves Coach Russ with no choice but to seek legal help to defend his name, his record, and his career.

Coach Russ is a special education teacher, someone who has dedicated his life to supporting students with unique challenges and needs. He does this work not for recognition or wealth — but because he cares deeply. As you can imagine, on a teacher's salary, paying for legal fees to take on the administration can be quite burdensome, and creates a stark imbalance of power.

To pursue justice, Coach Russ is retaining the specialized services of Steve Fitzgerald of Garrison, Levin-Epstein, Fitzgerald & Pirrotti, P.C., one of the top employment lawyers in the Northeast and a fierce advocate for workers’ rights. The first $5,000 will go towards Mr. Fitzgerald’s retainer, and anything additional will be used towards future legal expenses.

Coach Russ has always stood up for his students and players. Now, he needs his community to stand up for him.

Please consider donating whatever you can — every contribution brings us closer to giving Coach Russ the fair legal representation he deserves, and holding the board of education and administration accountable. And if you can’t donate, please share this page with others who care about justice and fairness in our community.

Thank you for your support.

#wreckersforruss