In this week, a significant legal battle has erupted within the Lincoln boys basketball program. Coach Heather Seely-Roberts finds herself at the center of a dueling tort claim, with parents of several players accusing her of undermining the program, while she alleges that the parents are harassing her. This conflict has far-reaching implications and has drawn significant attention.

Unraveling the Legal Tussle in Lincoln Boys Basketball

Background of the Dispute

Coach Seely-Roberts was hired by Lincoln in 2021 and holds dual roles as the boys basketball coach and a physical education teacher. She is the only female coach of a boys varsity sports team in Oregon's Class 6A and claims to be treated differently from male coaches. In just three years, she has led the team to a remarkable 58-25 record, with the Cardinals winning the Portland Interscholastic League and finishing third in the state in the 2022-23 season.However, tensions escalated when parents of four students filed a tort claim accusing Seely-Roberts of using homophobic slurs, making racist comments, and retaliating against players. The claim also alleges that she moved some players to junior varsity and promoted others after certain incidents.Parents have voiced concerns about Seely-Roberts' actions, such as making her Instagram account private and allegedly lying about basketball tryout dates. There were also allegations of retaliation against students who played for a rival offseason club coach.

Investigation by Portland Public Schools

Earlier this year, Portland Public Schools conducted an investigation into many of these allegations following a formal complaint from the same group of parents. The district's findings were largely inconclusive. They noted some retaliation but took no disciplinary action.For example, in a January 2023 meeting, Seely-Roberts and an assistant coach approached a student concerned about a former assistant coach's actions. The district found no evidence to conclude that the meeting was intended to intimidate the student.There were also disputes over whether Seely-Roberts left certain people off team emails or made an unintentional mistake. And regarding the former assistant coach attending an offseason event, the district's investigation stated that the coach was not invited by Seely-Roberts and was told to leave the campus.

Seely-Roberts' Counterclaims

Through a tort claim filed by lawyer Steve Lindsey, Seely-Roberts claims that the constant complaints and the Thursday's tort claim were a way for parents to attack her after their teenagers failed to make the varsity lineup.She also submitted a formal complaint with Portland Public Schools, demanding an investigation into one of the families that filed the tort claim. She claims that this family has been harassing her and that the school district has failed to take appropriate action.In an email from lawyer Ross Denison, Seely-Roberts denied the accusations made in the parents' tort claim, stating that there were too many fabrications.

Incidents at Meetings

Late in October, at an Oct. 9 meeting with Portland Interscholastic League Athletic Director Marshall Haskins, one of the parents allegedly intimidated and harassed other parents. The coach's complaint includes accounts from several Lincoln parents who were present, describing the volatile behavior of one parent.This incident added to the already tense situation and further highlighted the deep divide between the coach and the parents.

Alleged Title IX Violation

Seely-Roberts also claims that PPS is violating Title IX as she is the only coach required to operate open gyms under Haskins' supervision, while the Lincoln tryouts were supervised by Lincoln athletic director Matt Wiles.This aspect of the dispute raises questions about fairness and equal treatment within the program.Subscribe to the High School Sports+ newsletter to stay updated on this ongoing legal battle and its impact on the Lincoln boys basketball program. Sign up here to get exclusive news and insights from high school sports editor Nik Streng. Reach him at nstreng@oregonian.com or @NikStreng.