Mascoutah school leaders and students condemn racist comment about beloved coach
Mascoutah High School officials are reviewing a racist comment about a basketball coach who died unexpectedly Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the district.
Boys basketball head coach Justin Love, 41, was found unresponsive on campus around 11:15 a.m. Loving comments from colleagues, players and former teammates flooded social media as the news of his death spread.
Known for two successful seasons at Saint Louis University and a 12-year professional career abroad, Love “created memories and he built relationships, and that is why he was so special,” said the school’s athletic director, Scott Battas.
But a racist comment made by a Mascoutah High School student about Love, who is Black, also spread Wednesday. As a matter of policy, the Belleville News-Democrat does not publish the derogatory terms the student used and has redacted them from the comment.
“Nother [n-word] down coach luv died,” the student posted in a group chat.
Peers quickly condemned the comment as it spread, and in a separate chat, the student regretted using the word.
“Please don’t show that to the school,” the student wrote. “Dude I’m sorry ... It was a mistake ... I’ll loss [sic] everything.”
The comment did make it to school officials. A statement from the school district said the racist behavior “has no place in Mascoutah Schools.”
“We understand your anger — be assured we are dealing with this and will take appropriate action,” the statement said.
Principal Brandon Woodrome said the high school and district administrations are working together to determine disciplinary action. Meantime, grief counselors are available for students.
Woodrome said he is working with advisors in the “No Place for Hate” program, an anti-bias project established by the Anti-Defamation League, to develop a plan support for students upset by the comments. He also hopes to plan a long-term anti-hate initiative “to benefit all of our students.”
Love was a member of the No Place for Hate team, Woodrome said.
“He was a positive influence to all of our students and staff,” Woodrome said. “With that in mind we continue to focus on his wonderful contributions to our school and community and are asking people to find ways to support one another and Justin’s family during this difficult time.”
Love, originally from San Francisco, was inducted into the Billiken Hall of Fame in 2009. He played briefly in the NBA before a career playing overseas. He served as an assistant coach at Belleville West before he was hired at Mascoutah.
Reporter Megan Valley contributed to this report.
This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
