Oregon middle school football coach fired for planning to take boys to Hooters for party

PORTLAND, Ore. – A Portland, Ore.-area middle school football coach who said he was willing to lose his job rather than back down from plans for a team party at Hooters has lost his job.

The athletic director for the Corbett School District, Jean-Paul Soulagnet, sent a letter to parents Monday night telling them the end-of-season awards party at Hooters was no longer a Corbett Middle School event.

Soulagnet also fired coach Randy Burbach for refusing to choose a more appropriate location.

Burbach told KGW-TV he would not bow to pressure to move the party, because he always told his boys to stand up for what they believe in.

That account differs from Soulagnet’s, who said that Burbach mostly objected to boosters speaking to others instead of complaining directly to him.

The restaurant bills itself as “delightfully tacky,” and its waitresses wear skimpy outfits.

“I asked him to change it because I want the kids to enjoy their season,” Soulagnet said Tuesday. “If there are one or two kids not going to come because they’re not comfortable or their parents are not comfortable, then we need to change it.”

Soulagnet said “three or four” families complained about the location.

Burbach did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press on Tuesday morning.

“I think there are better locations,” Soulagnet said. “The restaurant, it’s good food, but I don’t think it sends a message that we want to our young men.”

Burbach said he believes Hooters is appropriate for families. Soulagnet disagrees.

“Hooters is known worldwide for a number of things,” Soulagnet said, “and I don’t think food is one of them.”