Belgrade board approves hiring of Robert Nugent as girls basketball coach after public comment

The Belgrade School District board voted to hire Robert Nugent as the girls head basketball coach for the 2024–25 season after convening briefly in closed session to discuss personnel privacy and then reopening for public comment.

Supporters — including parents, students and fellow coaches — told the board Nugent brought discipline, high expectations and care for players. “He cares for these kids, and he cares enough to hold them accountable,” said Alexander Perrin, who addressed the board in support of the hire. Abby Webber, a varsity player, said Nugent “went above my expectations for a coach” and credited him with rebuilding pride in the program.

Some commenters pressed the board on results and process. Perrin also asked whether this was “the third coach that is under investigation” and questioned the team’s win totals over the last two seasons. The transcript does not include a board response to that specific characterization during public comment.

Before public comments, the chair said the matter involved individual privacy and directed the board into a closed (executive) session; speakers were told they could offer confidential remarks in that session if they preferred. After returning to open session, the board proceeded with the vote. The chair called for ayes; several members responded “aye,” and the chair declared the motion approved. The meeting record provided in the transcript does not include a roll-call vote or a named tally.

Speakers at the meeting emphasized different perspectives: parents and coaches described on-court discipline and off-court support from Nugent; at least one speaker questioned whether past investigations and modest recent win totals should factor into the hiring decision. Several educators and coaches said removing Nugent now — after one season of changes — would be a disservice to the program.

The motion that passed was to hire Robert Nugent as the girls head basketball coach for the 2024–25 season. The transcript does not include contract details, salary, or a roll-call vote breakdown. The board also offered attendees an option to give confidential comments during the earlier closed session because the matter was characterized as involving individual privacy.