Former Hunterdon Central wrestling coach Steve Gibble 'vindicated' on bullying charges

FLEMINGTON - Steve Gibble, Hunterdon Central High School's former Hall of Fame wrestling coach, has been "vindicated" by a school board vote to reject a bullying allegation filed against him four years ago.

After two full days of hearings, the board voted 7-2 on Nov. 17 to reject an allegation by former Superintendent of Schools Christine Steffner that Gibble, who compiled a 348-119 record during his 22 years as head coach and is a member of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association's Coaches Hall of Fame, committed bullying during a summer wrestling camp program in July 2014.

The hearing was a result of an Appellate Court decision that upheld a state Office of Administrative Law ruling, which concluded that the coach should have been afforded a hearing on the bullying charge as required by New Jersey's Anti-Bullying Act.

The bullying charge led to his dismissal from the coaching position by the school board. Gibble then appealed the dismissal to the state Office of Administrative Law.

STATUS OF FEDERAL COURT CASE

Gibble, still a social studies teacher at the school, also has a case pending in federal court against the school district. That case was stayed pending the school board hearing. Steven Farsiou, Gibble's attorney, said on Monday that he will be asking the federal court to re-open the case and will be amending the lawsuit.

Hunterdon Central has a policy of not commenting on pending litigation. Despite the board's decision, Farsiou said Gibble has suffered because of the initial allegation that lost him the wrestling job.

"You can't put the toothpaste back into the tube," Farsiou said, adding that Gibble's reputation has been damaged and he has suffered financial loss and his health has been adversely affected.

"His reputation can not be restored," the attorney said.

Farsiou said he was "very happy" that seven members of the board rejected the former superintendent's allegation.

"They did the right thing," he said.

Those seven board members were not in office when Gibble lost the wrestling position.

For Farisou, a 1993 Hunterdon Central graduate, Gibble was the target of "malicious" actions by the school's administration.

"I want to restore what Hunterdon Central used to be," said Farsiou. "This nonsense has to stop."

Steffner left the school district in 2016 to become superintendent in Livingston. She resigned that post in July. Steffner returned to Hunterdon Central to testify in Gibble's bullying hearing, Farisou said.

The hearings, conducted in closed session, were held on Oct. 17 and Nov. 17.

WHAT HAPPENED

The incident began in July 2014, when Gibble was serving as a volunteer coach at a wrestling camp hosted by the Rutgers University wrestling team at the school. A student, identified only by his initials, was one of 15 youths attending the camp.

On two occasions during the camp, Gibble stated to the student, in the presence others, that he hoped the student did not have access to any weapons or keys to a gun cabinet, according to the bullying complaint.

Gibble, Farsiou said, does not recall making the comment, but remembers making a light-hearted comment to get the student, an entering freshman, to relax and enjoy the camp.

According to court papers, the student, because he believed that Gibble thought he was crazy, called his parents and left the camp early.

The student's parents complained to the principal and the school conducted an investigation to determine whether the comments constituted harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB). The investigation concluded that Gibble had committed a HIB act and forwarded the recommendation to the school board, which voted to suspend him from all coaching activities.

Gibble appealed the board's decision to the state Office of Administrative Law, which ruled that the coach should have been afforded a hearing on the bullying charged as required by New Jersey's Anti-Bullying Act. That judge also ruled that because Gibble had not been given due process, and that any reference to a finding of bullying be stricken from his personnel file.

The school board then appealed that decision to the Department of Education, which agreed that Gibble's due process rights had been violated, but that his record would not be changed until a hearing was held.

Gibble then filed an appeal with the Appellate Court, which agreed with the Department of Education's decision.

GIBBLE’S COACHING / WRESTLING RECORDS

Gibble was Hunterdon Central's coach from the 1992-93 season, when he took over the reigns from the legendary Russ Riegel, through the 2013-14 season.

Gibble's teams captured four Skyland Conference titles, in addition to winning 11 of the program's 19 sectional championships. His teams reached the Group IV final seven times (1993, '94, '95, '99, 2000, '03 and '10). Hunterdon Central was ranked in the Coaches Top 25 Poll in 16 of Gibble’s 22 seasons, missing only in 1995-96, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2011-12 and 2013-14. They finished in the top 10 in eight seasons, peaking at No. 4 in 1999-2000. The Red Devils were ranked No. 17 in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Top 20 in his final season.

Gibble, who wrestled under Riegel, won the Region V title in 1980 at 188 pounds.

Riegel, who several years ago retired from coaching in Kentucky, was 533-89-6 as Hunterdon Central's coach between 1956 and 1991.

Staff Writer Mike Deak: 908-243-6607; mdeak@mycentraljersey.com