Covina High School’s former head football coach and athletic director, Kevin Glaspy, filed a civil lawsuit last week against the Covina-Valley Unified School District and three district administrators, alleging various civil rights and labor code violations.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, seeks compensatory damages in excess of $7.5 million, according to his attorney, Richard A. Apodaca, due to lost wages and retirement benefits, and for mental pain, anguish and emotional distress.

Also named in the lawsuit are district superintendent Elizabeth Eminhizer, assistant superintendent Michelle Doll and chief business officer Manuel Correa.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants violated the Fair Employment and Housing Act by subjecting Glaspy to harassment, discrimination, retaliation, defamation and by inflicting emotional distress, wrongful termination and other conduct that violates public policy.

Glaspy, a longtime coach and administrator at Covina, filed a procedural claim against the Covina-Valley Unified School District on Sept. 5, notifying the CVUSD of the monetary damages he was seeking. On Sept. 20, the school district rejected his claim, which ultimately led to the lawsuit that was filed last week.

Glaspy released a statement through his attorney.

“I have been singled out, and treated unfairly, by Covina Valley USD,” Glaspy wrote. “I am filing this lawsuit to clear my name, but also to expose the toxic work environment at the District.

“For far too long, I have been ignored and my side of the story buried. If they can do this to me, with 30 years of dedicated service to this community, I can only imagine what they are doing to others.”

The Southern California News Group contacted the CVUSD, Eminhizer, Doll and Correa seeking comment on the lawsuit’s allegations, but has not received a response.

Glaspy was removed as Covina’s athletic director, football coach and track and field coach in January of 2024 and placed on administrative leave while the district conducted an investigation into issues related to the SGV Bowl, an all-star football game that was played at Covina District Field.

Glaspy was reinstated by the district as a teacher in August of 2024. He was not reinstated as athletic director and football head coach, although the school allowed him to be an assistant coach for the team.

Glaspy has spent more than three decades at the school. He has been on Covina’s football staff for 33 years, mostly as an assistant coach. The 2023 season was Glaspy’s only season as the team’s head coach.

The district’s investigation appeared to probe the distribution of proceeds collected at the SGV Bowl, safety precautions at the game and other matters related to the event.

The lawsuit claims that Glaspy took all the necessary steps requested by the Covina-Valley Unified School District.

The lawsuit states: “Before the event, the School District had notice and knowledge that Football Boosters from Covina High, and ASB Football Boosters for South Hills and Northview High would equally share in the profits received from efforts in snack bar and parking from the event, and that before the event, the School District never placed any prior restrictions, restraints and/or prohibitions on fundraise splitting with any third-party and also made no objection to this prior practice. They were fully aware a third parties were also organizing, participating, but also fundraising at the event.”

The SGV Bowl was played in front of a packed crowd. Two local rappers performed on the field, one prior to the game and another at halftime while surrounded by players. A large group of spectators rushed onto the field during the halftime performance.

There were no reported serious injuries caused by the crowd’s behavior, but police were summoned to the stadium near the end of the contest to clear the crowd from the area.

The lawsuit claims that Glaspy offered to provide extra security, but was denied by the CVUSD.