Coach’s contract dropped after winning appeal

By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

East St. John boys’ head basketball coach Charles Julien has been relieved of his duties as both head basketball coach and as a teacher at the school, East St. John Athletic Director Larry Dauterive confirmed to L’Observateur earlier this week.

It comes over a month after Julien winning an appeal on his proposed firing to the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, after he allegedly make an inappropriate comment to a female student.

Yussef Jasmine, an assistant under Julien, has been recommended by the school as Julien’s successor as head basketball coach, Dauterive said.

Julien led East St. John to a 27-10 record and the school’s first district title of any kind this year. He also led the Wildcats to their first Top 28 tournament appearance two years ago.

Julien says he was told last week that his contract, which expired May 30, would not be renewed.

&#8220I was told that I wouldn’t be recommended to return and teach at East. St. John,” Julien said. &#8220They told me I couldn’t take the team to their summer program. I thought everything would be back to normal at this point. That was my impression.”

School System Superintendent Michael Coburn had recommended Julien’s dismissal in April. Julien appealed that recommendation and was granted a hearing before the School Board in May.

The School Board ruled in that meeting that Julien’s comments, while inappropriate, did not constitute sexual harassment, and that Julien would be permitted to return to East St. John in both teaching and coaching capacities.

Julien says that when he learned of his dismissal, he was told that the decision had nothing to do with the allegations against him.

&#8220I’m under the impression that the School Board is the governing body,” Julien said. &#8220The Board said I’d be returning to my duties on May 31. All the school will tell me is that it’s a personnel issue.”

Neither Colburn nor East St. John Principal Debra Schum returned calls for comment.

Dauterive said that neither he nor anyone else at the school is permitted to comment about personnel issues, but added that Julien’s coaching has never been called into question.

&#8220It has nothing to do with what he’s done with the basketball program, or his coaching ability” Dauterive said. &#8220We appreciate the great effort that he put into it, and he took it to new heights.”

Dauterive said that the school still had a process to go through before Jasmine could officially be named head coach, but added that Jasmine, who has been with the school for three years, is an &#8220excellent young coach.”

In Julien’s first season, in 2002, the team went 3-11. The team improved steadily under his watch, peaking with two 27-win seasons, in 2005 and 2007.

&#8220The only thing I don’t understand is if it has nothing to do with that situation and nothing to do with my coaching, then I don’t know what is the issue is,” Julien said.