Before he was hired by Mt. Lebanon , the suit said, former players, coaches and parents told athletic director John Grogan about the 1995 incidents and told him not to hire Mr. Begor.I wonder if John Grogan shared the warnings with the school district. Does anyone know who does the hiring? Is it Timmy, the school board, or HR? Whoever is responsible should resign. Whatever the case, our school board president (was and still is) made national news when this youtube video hit. "Our goal is clearly not to find a qualified and interested U.S. worker."
After the district hired him, according to the complaint, he began sexually suggestive conduct.
If the name Begor sounds familiar, Dawn Begor was the Devil's Advocate advisor when this news hit. Parent offended by article in The Devil's Advocate UPDATED I don't know if there is any relation.
I am sorry that our girls had to endure this abuse. I hope they collect HUGE damages from Mt. Lebanon. This is despicable.
Update April 25, 2016 7:01 PM Lawsuit claims former Mt. Lebanon volleyball coach behaved inappropriately
Unfortunately, this is the same school board where the president made national news when this video was released. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCbFEgUnfortunately, this is the same school board where the president made national news when this video was released. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCbFEgFajGUWhen the district hired him in 2015, he subjected the girls on the team to sexual behavior that included having them wrestle each other while he taped them, using nicknames that added “-gina” and “-licious” to their first names and frequently grabbing his crotch with one or both hands in front of them, the lawsuit said.I tried to post a reply to Donald Holt with the above quote from the Trib, but it didn't pass the moderator. :(
Update April 26, 2016 5:27 PM I'm glad to see that the defendants are Mt. Lebanon School District and John Grogan, as well as Brian Begor. https://dockets.justia.com/docket/pennsylvania/pawdce/2:2016cv00498/230254I am so sorry to hear that four of our girls had to endure this abuse. I hope the parents and the girls are able to collect big time and that there are some resignations over this. Truly desp
Is there a way to read the docket? Youth sports in Western Pa needs a serious intervention.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.post-gazette.com/sports/hsother/2015/07/10/South-West-Xtra-Begor-leaves-West-Allegheny-to-take-Mt-Lebanon-volleyball-post/stories/201507100042
ReplyDelete“I’m friends with Mt. Lebanon athletic director John Grogan,” Begor said. “He was having trouble finding a coach and asked for my opinion on some of the applicants.”
Sam Cordes is their lawyer -- he is a good lawyer and a good guy. If there is anything to these allegations, he will get them money.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that Sam Cordes would not have pursued the case unless there is really something to it. This is sick stuff.
ReplyDeleteHe deleted his Twitter account today. He had loads of contact with college players he formerly coached. He asked some to meet him at the Saloon. I'm not going to add the other lurid details to spare readers the nausea. In Mt Lebo, one must learn not to flinch.
ReplyDeleteIt is really upsetting to read some of the comments posted under the Post Gazetter article! People saying negative things about the girls! No wonder victims sometimes hesitate to come forward…they fear exactly what is happening to these girls. Shame on people who are blaming the girls!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, this really is disturbing! I feel so very bad for those girls! I wonder if those people defending him will continue to do so after all this information comes out!
ReplyDeleteAs a therapist who has work with sex offenders, this is the first time Begor was criminally caught. It means there is a history of past behavior, but not reported. He has a past. Other people know of his past, but have remained silent. It is important that the victims are supported.
ReplyDeleteCarrie Walker-Hansberry (sp?) (see complaint) is the daughter of former long-time Mt. Lebanon High School football coach, Art Walker.
ReplyDelete11:46, you're right. In the 90's he talked dirty to girls, was told it was wrong, then left Mt. Lebanon.
ReplyDeleteHe's still talking dirty to the girls after returning to Mt. Lebanon.
Steinhauer has a history of protecting sexual predators.
He did not file the form to suspend Salvo's teaching certificate in a timely manner.
Salvo had his teaching certificate with no discipline more than a year after he was convicted and on the Megan's Law site.
Steinhauer should have been disciplined for that, the PA Dept. of Education knew Steinhauer should have been disciplined for it, but nothing happened to Steinhauer.
How many more girls will be victimized before Steinhauer is disciplined?
Good question, 7:10. The big challenge, however, is getting Mt. Lebanon residents to care (other than those on this blog). See No Evil is their motto.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if each of the school board members has seen the docket. If someone can post their addresses, I'll print the docket and mail it to each of them. Is that a good idea?
ReplyDeleteI am really awed by the 4 Jane Does. Can you imagine what it is like for them to be going through this while they may still be students? When their own principal's attitude toward the rub downs was something like "well maybe they were 18"? While the athletic director ignored their parents? While other parents minimized their concerns?
Do they not have any clue about the epidemic of sexual predators within PA? Can they turn on the news and see what has happened in Plum Boro -- how the teachers and coaches target students and groom them for these relationships? What is Mt Lebanon's excuse for permitting obviously degrading, predatory behavior and sexual harassment toward its students? They do NOT have one.
Sadly, I must agree with the assessments of 7:10 and 7:28 AM. I just witnessed the Commissioners agreeing that we should spend more than a quarter of a million dollars on a re-do of the platform tennis courts and walkway, because SPORTS IS KING IN MT. LEBANON! Presumably, as long as you advance the sports agenda, you can do practically anything in the community and folks will look the other way. Sad. And even sadder the fact that the powers-that-be seem genuinely oblivious to the true image that Mt. Lebanon now wears like a garment of rags. And they think that everyone else is truly envious of the Emperors New Clothes! How self-deluded can people be???
ReplyDelete10:23, here is the link to the docket. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9r_1biKte_bODNxdGRuMTY4bW8/view
ReplyDeleteYou can email the school board at schoolboard@mtlsd.net
Elaine
Barbara--
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your "garment of rags" comment. Perfect. Well-written. Apparently, the five commishes are experts at self-delusion. Remember, too, that they are totally out of touch with the public---in and around Mt. Lebanon.
Essentially, we have no government.
This is really disgusting. I give those girls and their parents credit for bringing this suit. So shameful.
ReplyDeleteI have not been able to confirm this, but I heard that Begor's replacement has been hired. Joe Rodella, former school board president and Pitt's hockey coach will be the new Girls Volleyball coach. He has been in the news.
ReplyDeletePA Cyber connections prompt inquiry Rodella is also on the Mt. Lebanon Community Endowment Board. Mt. Lebanon Community Endowment Board of Directors
Elaine
Here is some confirmation, Elaine:
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/mtlebanonsports/status/722930608758988800
WHAT DOES A HOCKEY COACH KNOW ABOUT VOLLEYBALL ?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the confirmation, 4:07 PM. Sure, let's hire another person who was under investigation, but has no criminal record.
ReplyDeleteWhy not promote the assistant coach who approached Grogan and the principal?
Elaine
The PA Cyber connections prompt inquiry article mentions an "in your face" approach that Rodella used to benefit from his conflict of interest. Could it be that Mt Lebanon is using the same "in your face" approach to filling the volleyball position? Is this a punishment to all the female volleyball players and their parents?
ReplyDeleteMaybe a female volleyball coach is in order for the girls' volleyball team. What do you think?
ReplyDelete5:01. Yes, and new uniforms.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2007/07/12/Mt-Lebanon-AD-gets-three-year-contract/stories/200707120234
ReplyDeleteEvidently Rodella was the School Board president when Grogan was under fire in 2007 re: hiring coaches with questionable behavior in their past. Rodella stood up for Grogan, and his contract was renewed. And now, Grogan is in a similar position, and hires his old buddy for the coaching position -- who hasn't coached volleyball in twenty years. I can tell you that this is not the same game as it was twenty years ago. There are positions that weren't even in existence 10 years ago. What a slap in the face to these girls. Can you imagine them hiring a football or baseball coach whose previous experience was 20 years of coaching volleyball? Of course not!!
It just gets worse and worse. I sent this to the school board along with a copy of your 12:38 PM comment.
ReplyDeleteElaine
"School board directors,
This anonymous comment was sent to my blog. It is concerning that Joe Rodella was hired to replace Brian Begor as volleyball coach, when he knows nothing about coaching volleyball, but has history with John Grogan. See the PG article.
This is disgusting. Why do sports rule in this town? Why is John Grogan still with the school district? Dan Remely, you were quoted in this article. Why are you standing for this? What is it about coaches being banned from school property, but then get hired? What is wrong with you guys? When is this behavior going to cease?
Elaine Gillen"
While it is absolutely true that sports rule in Mt. Lebanon, do they rule in the same way for girls as they do for boys? For example, and I do not know the answer, would The Top Jocks hire a green, inexperienced coach for one of the boys' teams?
ReplyDeleteany ideas or knowledge of when MTL will respond to the allegations etc so we can read how they will try to weasel their way out of this?!?!
ReplyDelete