The Superintendent Speaks (But Will He Speak Today?)
Update 2:
The district has a statement at their website about this issue and the wording is interesting.
Prior to the 2025–26 season, Garfield and Seattle Public Schools referred questions regarding the boys basketball program to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), the governing body for high school athletics in Washington. Following its review, WIAA did not find a violation.
Coach Roy did not participate in coaching during the 2025–26 season while the review was underway. When the position became available this spring, Roy applied through Seattle Public Schools’ standard hiring process.
Did not participate? He was fired. That fact was reported via several news sources.
And they fired him without the WIAA investigation being completed? They could have put him on leave but they didn't.
What is up with that? Why did Principal Hart feel he had to get rid of Roy? Curious.
Garfield leadership emphasized that the next chapter of the boys basketball program will be centered on students first, with a strong focus on academic success, integrity, accountability, and clear communication with families.
Well, that's great but wasn't that always the case for ALL athletes in Seattle Public Schools?
But wait, the announcement goes on (and on):
As the program moves forward, Garfield High School will continue to prioritize student achievement, family engagement, and a positive, structured environment that supports student success.
Garfield’s long-standing tradition of excellence in both academics and athletics remains central to its approach, with a continued emphasis on opportunity, accountability, and support for all student-athletes.
I think a bit repetitive, no?
I note that in one of the Times' articles, Mr. Roy made a couple of telling statements:
But at a Thursday news conference with the superintendent of Seattle Public Schools and the principal of Garfield High School sat to his left, that’s exactly what he did.
Roy, 41, said he was a little nervous. But it also felt like vindication, he said.
New SPS Superintendent Ben Shuldiner described the rehiring of Roy, a three-time NBA All-Star and former Husky basketball star, as making amends. Roy thanked both men sitting to his left, telling reporters there is no animosity.
I'm glad he is being so generous. But I can't help but feel that there is much more to this situation.Update:
Remember how I said that perhaps the press conference held yesterday to announce the return of fired Garfield boys basketball coach Brandon Roy would bring clarity to the situation?
Nope. Today's article in The Seattle Times actually muddies the water more. And yes, Superintendent Shuldiner was there.
There was no explanation as to why Roy was fired before any SPS investigation was completed. It appears that the girls basketball coach, Roydell Smiley, was also fired at the time and I wonder if there was some connection there.
A specific explanation for why Roy was fired before an investigation wasn’t provided. But school leaders said the situation has prompted reflection on what should be done differently.
And how did Roy take this firing at the time:
On Thursday, Roy said he wasn’t sure what to say beyond denying the allegations at the time. He wrote his statement to the district and let the matter be.
“I was assuming it was an investigation,” he said. “Then it just came out that I was going to be let go, I didn’t really even dig into the process of why. I took it like it just wasn’t meant to be. I didn’t do anything wrong and this is happening, (so) then I’m just going to move on.”
Roy said he used it as a learning experience for his children, explaining the importance of patience despite the attempts to “smear” his name.
Well isn't he sanguine. Anyone else - any famous person - might have considered a lawsuit for defamation. Hmmm.
Garfield principal Tarance Hart had this to say:
During the news conference, Hart said that Roy reapplied to the role through the Seattle Public Schools hiring process and that it was “not an automatic return.” Roy was interviewed like any other candidate with a committee made up of school and athletic leaders, among others, Hart said.
Sure.
Hart said a key takeaway from the situation is the importance of how things are communicated, stating he used his best judgment at the time but underestimated the “swift reaction of our community.”
“I would never make that mistake again, recognizing just the importance of basketball here as part of Garfield’s history and culture, recognizing just the importance of someone like Brandon Roy, who’s a product of Garfield … I would have handled it with a lot more care,” Hart said.
Hart has been at Garfield for five years and he was unaware that the boys basketball team was important despite a former NBA player being the coach?
I'm not buying what he's selling.What did Shuldiner do/say? It appears this was on his radar in the FIRST MONTH on the job.
In March, Roy’s daughter said she wanted him to return. Around the same time, Shuldiner, who was a month into the role of superintendent, reached out to Roy as well.
“I would rather lose every game if it meant we do things right than win a single game if we do anything wrong,” Shuldiner said. “I think as a leader I’ve been trying to show my best in terms of ethical, moral leadership … in the conversations I’ve had with Mr. Roy, I’ve been really impressed by his desire to do everything not only right, but exceptional.”
I hope that Shuldiner's appreciation of doing things right - and doing them exceptionally right - goes straight to the HR audit. Because HR is where so many SPS issues start. HR conducts SPS investigations and most are poorly done. If you have ever read one, you would be appalled at the sloppy language.
As I said, many commenters are just finding this all more than a little shady. I agree.
end of update
I see from the SPS website Superintendent Shuldiner has an affirmative greeting for Pride Month. He says (partial):
In Seattle Public Schools, LGBTQIA+ students are an essential part of our school communities. They are part of every school and community across Seattle Public Schools, and they are brilliant, creative, joyful, and full of promise.
We want every student to come to school as their full self, to be respected for who they are, and to be surrounded by adults who care for them, support them, and expect great things.
One of the most meaningful parts of my first four and a half months as superintendent has been visiting schools and seeing how belonging is created every day through student-led clubs, visible signs of pride, and conversations with students about why it matters that we stand clearly and proudly with our LGBTQIA+ community.
Education is about academics, but it is also about helping young people understand themselves and one another, and live in community with kindness, curiosity, and care.
You will hear more in the months ahead about creating supportive school environments as part of our broader work on school improvement and student success. And we will not assume we are getting this right. We will continue to listen, survey, and learn from our students.
All good thoughts especially around broadly seeking to create those supportive spaces as that will make parents feel good about sending their child to Seattle Schools.
However, I see in today's Times a story that really bothers me.
Brandon Roy to return as Garfield boys basketball coach less than a year after firing
KOMO first reported the news Wednesday. Roy, a Garfield alum and three-time NBA All-Star, seemed to confirm it with reposts on his Instagram story that celebrated his return and featured a screenshot of an email from Garfield’s principal announcing the news to “students, families, and staff.”
“I am writing to share an important update about the Garfield boys basketball program,” the screenshot showing part of Garfield principal Tarance Hart’s email said. “Brandon Roy will return as Garfield’s Head Boys Basketball Coach for the 2026-2027 school year.”
Roy’s return will be formally announced at a 1 p.m. press conference on Thursday at the high school, according to a message from Seattle Public Schools.
The Times did have a story in March about Roy being part of a "recruiting push involving an NBA agent that offered a student cash, a car, and an apartment if he transferred to Garfield."
Roy denies the allegations.
At the time, he also pushed back on the claim that he had been fired and stated that he was invited to reapply for his job in the future.
So did he reapply and SPS hired him back? Unclear.
As one commenter said:
So.... Seattle Times is reporting what another news outlet reported, with zero reporting on it's own about if the guy was guilty or not, and not even a question with a no comment about why he's being re-insstated?
Weak, Seattle Times. Weak.
Another comment:
The WIAA publicly stated it did not find a violation by Garfield. Yet Roy lost his coaching position while those allegations were being addressed, and now he's been rehired after going through the district's hiring process. That sequence naturally raises questions about how these employment decisions were made.
As for the press conference today:
If you're gonna fire a guy over recruiting allegations, and then rehire him, Garfield, SPS and the state should be prepared to explain.
I doubt there will be any kind of reasonable explanation.
Another one:
It’s sad to see how much high school championships (for boys) mean within the district. The district continuously looks the other way on high school team recruiting- you’d have to be blind to miss that.
This one nails it:
Why are they holding a press conference over the hiring of a high-school basketball coach?
We wonder why our kids are falling behind the rest of the world academically.
Perhaps a good start would be to stop making routine things that are meant to offer enjoyment and growth during high-school the highlight and start making academics the primary focal point.
I'm all for sports and extracurricular activities I just want them to be extra and not the primary.
Comments
I have seen principals take summer school leader assignments for which they, again, are well-paid. I am not sure how that works since they are still "working" at their elementary schools over the summer unless they put in for vacation. This almost seems like "double dipping." Perhaps I have something wrong here and would love to hear from those who understand how the principals' contracts work.
In our very small elementary schools, there is no need for a year-round principal and in my experience the principals do not work for much of the summer anyway and do not take it as vacation time.
SEA appears to be showing up at the John Stanford Center with a bullhorn.
I will not be supporting a strike and/or unreasonable demands because the district is bankrupt.
—Yep
Regarding Roy, all I hear at the water cooler is HR was targeting some people so Roy is not the only one that has been reprimanded/disappeared/fired in a very unclear way. Knowing the power Sarah Pritchett holds, this makes total sense. See how her sorority sisters have nothing to worry about their jobs although there have been multiple complaints about everyone. So this thing about Anitra not having anything on her file applies to more women in power.
Ben Shuldiner needs to prove with actions his words of SPS not being a jobs program. I am watching closely.
Working Dad
1) Was he responsible for recruiting activity that would violate SPS policy or WIAA rules?
2) What is the purpose of the Garfield basketball program -- to recruit ringers from anywhere to win state championships, or to develop, mentor, and give playing time to boys who actually live in the Garfield attendance zone?
At the time Roy was fired, it seemed clear that (1) was not proven, and that (2) might have been an equal or greater concern. So if Roy went through a re-hire process, and there was agreement among all the stakeholders about the mission of the Garfield basketball program and how it would be run, then it's fine that he is back in the job. No one ever questioned his coaching ability.
If the process was flawed in one high-profile case, it's fair to ask whether others deserve the same review. The same names continue to come up in these conversations, and with an HR audit underway, people are going to keep asking whether these were isolated incidents or signs of a larger problem.
Transparency and accountability shouldn't stop with one case. If SPS is serious about making amends, it needs to take an honest look at everyone who may have been affected by the same processes.