Hoover football player victim of ‘physical abuse, extreme humiliation’ by coach, attorney says

Attorneys Juandalynn Givan and Reginald McDaniel spoke out Wednesday on behalf of the family of a Hoover High School football player subjected to what they described as extreme humiliation and physical abuse shown in a video from a team practice.

“We are here for a family whose 17-year-old child has been subjected to an experience no child should ever go through regardless if it’s on the field of play,” Givan said at a news conference. “As you know, a video has gone viral depicting acts by the Hoover High School head football coach Drew Gilmer. The acts committed by Gilmer are pervasive, perverted, abusive, extreme, outrageous and beyond all possible bounds of human decency for someone who is deemed or defined as an educator in the public school system in the state of Alabama.”

Hoover City Schools superintendent Kevin Maddox announced Tuesday that Gilmer and defensive coordinator Adam Helms were placed on administrative leave. Former Albertville head coach Chip English was named interim coach.

A video leaked from a Hoover high practice showed two encounters between Hoover coaches and individual players that led to the decisions. In the first encounter, the coach appeared to thrust his groin onto the head of the player, who was on the ground. Givan, who is a state representative, said they would not name the student they are representing, who was depicted in the first of two incidents on the video. Givan said Wednesday was the student’s 17th birthday. “It’s our belief, based on information received so far, that this then 16-year-old – because his birthday is actually today – was subjected to physical abuse, extreme humiliation, since this has gone viral nationally, and emotional distress due to no fault of his own.

“A full grown man trusted with the safety and well-being of students – again, we’re not here to question if this coach is a good field of play coach – we’re here questioning whether the actions that were depicted in the video were those that deserve review as well as legal recourse.”

Givan said she and McDaniel intend to explore the potential of state and federal claims against the Hoover school system and Gilmer.

“To place him on administrative leave is not enough,” Givan said. “Coach Gilmer committed acts that justify termination and being enjoined from ever coaching on any level going forward.” McDaniel said, “As legal counsel, it’s our responsibility to look at every potential legal avenue that we can pursue. And we are looking at claims on the state level, we’re looking at claims on the federal level. This child didn’t deserve what happened to him.”

Givan said the incidents shown in the video happened at Friday’s practice. She said the video was leaked on Tuesday and the family contacted the lawyers.