WEST CANAAN — Mascoma Regional High School has fired its varsity baseball coach midway through the season after a report of “inappropriate contact with students” and referred the matter to police, according to Superintendent Amanda Isabelle.
The investigation into Hunter Campbell began late last month when a staff member reported Campbell’s alleged conduct, according to a statement from Isabelle. Administrators interviewed the students and their parents and Campbell, who was placed on administrative leave and later terminated.
The school district has notified police, Isabelle said, and is prepared to cooperate with a criminal probe.
“The district addressed this matter seriously from the onset, consistent with our values as a school community,” Isabelle said the statements. “The safety and well-being of students is always our foremost concern.”
The Canaan Police Department did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday evening.
Campbell did not respond to messages left on his cellphone Tuesday.
Campbell, 21, was in his first year coaching the Royals and was also a substitute teacher at the high school. He was hired as coach in the first week of March, shortly before the start of practices for the spring season. Campbell had played baseball at Colby-Sawyer College before the COVID-19 pandemic began and was living in Canaan with his fiancee.
The school’s investigation into Campbell’s conduct was launched on April 27, according to Isabelle. That’s the same day the Valley News published a profile of Campbell where he said he was dedicated to the program for the long term.
School Board secretary Danielle Thompson is also the president of the Royals Athletic Boosters. She said board members were aware Campbell had been terminated but hadn’t been provided any details about the case. Thompson, who has a son on the baseball team, said she was proud of the players for persevering under difficult circumstances.
Aaron Bryce, who had previously been the junior varsity coach and was Campbell’s assistant this season, was named acting head coach on April 29. On Tuesday, Bryce said he had interviewed for the head coaching position before it was offered to Campbell.
“I was told that I needed to coach the game that day,” Bryce said.
Mascoma is 0-9 so far this season and was winless in 2021 as well. The program’s last victory came on May 22, 2019.
Benjamin Rosenberg can be reached at brosenberg@vnews.com or 603-727-3302.