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Kettering School Board moves forward to fire Brian Donoher

HANDOUT Brian Donoher

Brian Donoher, Kettering Fairmont High School athletic director was charged with soliciting a prostitute, a third-degree misdemeanor, and possessing a criminal tool, a first-degree misdemeanor.

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By Jill Kelley, Staff Writer Updated 6:35 AM Wednesday, February 15, 2012

KETTERING, Ohio — The Kettering School Board on Tuesday took a first step toward dismissing Brian Donoher, the athletic director at Kettering Fairmont High School.

At its regular meeting, the board approved a recommendation to consider terminating his contract “for good and just cause.”

Donoher, the 42-year-old son of famed University of Dayton men’s basketball coach Don Donoher, was charged with soliciting a prostitute earlier this month in Dayton.

The married father of three was placed on paid administrative leave shortly after his arrest Feb. 1, and last week was put on unpaid family medical leave.

According to the Ohio Revised Code, Donoher has 10 days to request a hearing, during which he would be represented by an official from the Ohio Department of Education. If he declines, according to school officials, his contract will be terminated.

Neither Donoher nor his attorney could be reached for comment.

Kettering Superintendent Jim Schoenlein said he has not spoken with Donoher since the night of his arrest, but he believed the process was unfolding as it should.

“Serious personnel matters are very complex,” he said. “Everybody has legal rights, and there are confidentiality issues. The administration and the school board are working as quickly and as carefully as they can.”

Schoenlein had no comment on whether Donoher would receive a financial settlement or severance.

His arrest was part of a weeklong Dayton Police Department sting targeting sex customers. After his arrest, according to police reports, Donoher told police he had done this “about 10 different times in the last year.”

Schoenlein said the news that this might not have been an isolated incident was troubling. “Up to that point, there was some sentiment in the community that everybody makes mistakes, that everybody’s entitled to a second chance,” he said. “When that came out, that sort of squelched that support.”

Kettering Education Association President Rebecca Templeton-Owens called the situation “heart-breaking.”

“It would be for any family,” she said, noting Donoher is not a teacher and therefore not a member of the KEA. “It’s also such a prominent name in the community.”

Also Tuesday, the board named Assistant Athletic Director Frank Baxter interim athletic director. Baxter is in his 14th year at Fairmont, and his third as assistant AD. He also coaches wrestling and teaches social studies. Baxter lauded the athletic department and school staff for stepping up in the last couple of weeks.

Schoenlein, who noted that there are 20 sports and 900 student-athletes at Fairmont, said Baxter is very organized and will do well as interim AD.

The next court date for Donoher, who has entered a plea of not guilty, is March 5.

Staff Writer Doug Page contributed to this report.

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