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Mike Molieri, Menlo-Atherton High School special education teacher of 21 years and boys varsity basketball coach of 12 years, has been placed on administrative leave by the Sequoia Union High School District for an undisclosed reason. Students say they’re devastated to lose a teacher and coach who acted as a mentor and safe space for many on campus.
During a school board meeting on Aug. 21, M-A basketball players and a parent spoke during the public comment section seeking answers from the board as to why Molieri was placed on leave while expressing how important he is to the school’s community.
“Coach Mo is an amazing person. As you know, the African American community is very small at Menlo-Atherton. He provides a safe place for those boys, which is being taken away right now,” said Jermaine Sutton, the parent of varsity basketball player Jacob Sutton.
During the 2023-24 basketball season, M-A’s varsity boys basketball team competed in the semifinals of the state championship and were runner up in the Central Coast sectional championship.
“Coach has been something that I never thought I’d get in high school — a teacher, a mentor, somebody that I can go to and talk to about anything,” said Jacob during the board meeting. “We just want our coach and we just want to be able to play and be high school students without all this extra stuff.”
In addition to being the head coach, Molieri also encouraged his students to push for success in their academic work. Varsity basketball player Lucca Auer, who was also a teacher’s assistant in Molieri’s class, said when he was struggling with his grades his coach helped him stay on track of his schoolwork and was a big part of his success.
“I feel really sad that he’s not here and I can’t have him push me like he normally does,” said Auer.
Students say Molieri is not allowed to contact his students and are unable to answer their questions. While on administrative leave, Molieri is unable to provide a statement on the situation to this news organization.
“He is a legend at our school and everyone looks up to play for him,” said M-A basketball player Lucca Mazzie.
SUHSD Superintendent Crystal Leach confirmed that Molieri was placed on leave but did not provide a comment.
“He has been home for 30 days and has yet to be given any facts around the situation” said Mike’s brother Dan Molieri, lead investigator at the Oakland-based Law Offices of John Burris. Burris is representing the former M-A student involved in the federal lawsuit alleging excessive force and unreasonable arrest of two students in April 2023.
According to Dan, Mike has filed two Equal Employment Opportunity Commission retaliation charges against the district since being put on leave.
Assistant Coach Craig Carson will be serving as the interim head coach for the varsity boys basketball team, according to M-A Athletic Director Paul Snow. M-A’s high school basketball season will start in December.
