“I was told it was because of financial and budget issues,” Peter Benko said, on why the school chose not to rehire him.

Hunter Pyle, Benko and Daniel Cruz’s lawyer, tells a different story: “It appears that DVC was motivated by a desire to punish those who spoke out, and to frighten others from speaking out in the future.”

Athletic Director Christine Worsley, cited in the lawsuit as terminating the coaches’ employment, declined to comment on the matter.

The district filed a response to the charges on Jan. 28, denying all claims.  Repeated attempts to contact the district’s attorneys have gone unanswered.

Check out the full story in the Feb. 17 Inquirer print issue.