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Chico High players and parents say coach’s conduct drove majority of team away; district substantiated complaints but kept coach
Summary
Students and a parent told the Chico Unified School Board that a formal complaint against varsity volleyball coach Chaz Kopka was substantiated yet the district retained him; they described repeated belittling, social-media posts and administrative process failures and urged removal or a leave of absence.
Ten Chico High students and a parent urged the Chico Unified School District Board on June 18 to remove or temporarily replace varsity volleyball coach Chaz Kopka after what they described as a sustained pattern of harmful conduct during the 2024 season.
"We all had an extremely negative experience," student Karina Stevens told the board, saying she and nine teammates raised concerns directly to Kopka and through exit meetings. Stevens said the team filed a formal complaint, which she said investigation findings substantiated, yet the district refused to remove Kopka from his coaching position.
Kaylee Solano, a Chico High student, said the coach’s repeated belittling tactics "made my mental health the worst it’s…
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