Originally reported by Vehement Media, a formal complaint filed by a Grants Pass High School student has drawn significant attention to the conduct of teacher and coach Matthew Kennedy. The allegations depict a troubling pattern of harassment, retaliation, and abuse of authority within the school’s athletic program. Filed through official district channels, the complaint details a series of incidents that have left the student feeling unsafe and has prompted broader concerns about oversight and accountability in Oregon’s public education system.
The conflict began shortly after the student voluntarily left the football team on September 12, 2025. According to the complaint, Kennedy responded by attempting to block the student from participating in any other sports, despite the absence of any official rule supporting such a decision. Athletic Director Robert Lingo ultimately overturned this action, allowing the student to continue involvement in other athletic programs such as wrestling. The decision made clear that Kennedy’s attempt to enforce an additional penalty was personal rather than procedural.
Ten days later, on September 22, at approximately 5:15 p.m., Kennedy confronted the student near the wrestling mat room. The complaint alleges that Kennedy demanded the student remove clothing bearing football team insignia because they were no longer part of the team. The student was reportedly at a water fountain with their back turned when the encounter began, describing it as intimidating and without justification. This incident, according to the complaint, reflected a personal vendetta rather than any school policy.
The situation escalated when Kennedy, aware that the student had filed complaints about his behavior, entered the student’s classroom and retold the hallway incident aloud to another teacher, speaking loudly enough for the entire class to hear. This public retelling, unrelated to any legitimate classroom purpose, left the student embarrassed and fearful of further retaliation. The complaint frames this third incident as a deliberate act of humiliation.
The formal complaint cites a range of potential policy and legal violations, including Oregon Administrative Rules governing educator conduct. These rules require respect for individual dignity, equitable treatment, and adherence to ethical standards. It references OAR 584-020-0010 on individual dignity, OAR 584-020-0030 on respectful human relations, and OAR 584-020-0040 on misconduct. The allegations also invoke Grants Pass School District policies, which mandate professional and caring staff interactions, adherence to civil rights protections under Title VI, Title IX, ADA, and Section 504, and consistent rule enforcement outlined in both the district and high school handbooks. District Board Policies KL and KL-AR, covering discrimination and harassment, are also cited as potentially applicable to the case.
The complaint goes further than recounting personal grievances. It calls for specific actions from the district, including the confirmation of the complaint, release of hallway camera footage from outside the mat room, and a prompt in-person meeting with administrators. The student is urging district officials to intervene quickly to address what they see as unchecked misconduct that could affect other students if left unaddressed. These demands underscore a larger theme: whether the district has sufficient mechanisms in place to hold coaches and educators accountable when they step outside their professional boundaries.
The allegations against Kennedy are particularly significant because they involve a first-year head coach. If the claims are substantiated, they highlight vulnerabilities in the oversight of athletic programs, where coaches often wield significant authority over students’ extracurricular opportunities. Cases like this raise questions about whether existing oversight systems are robust enough to detect and address abuses of power early, before they escalate.
The Grants Pass School District has yet to make a public statement on the matter. It remains unclear whether internal investigations are underway or whether Kennedy has faced any disciplinary measures at this stage. The student’s filing has the potential to set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future, both locally and possibly statewide, if state education officials become involved through the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC), which oversees educator ethics in Oregon.
Beyond the individual case, the situation is likely to resonate with parents, students, and educators across Oregon. It raises broader questions about how much authority individual coaches should wield, how grievances are processed within schools, and whether student protections are adequately enforced. If mishandled, the case could erode trust between students and staff, especially within athletic programs where participation often hinges on the discretion of a single coach.
As the complaint moves through official channels, the outcome may determine not only the resolution of this particular conflict but also set a tone for future oversight in school athletics. For now, the student is seeking transparency and swift administrative action, while the district faces mounting pressure to demonstrate that student safety and dignity remain top priorities.