Air Academy coach refused game over racial safety fears

Air Academy High School head football coach Waymond Jackson told district officials he would not send his players to face Lutheran High School of Parker because of a specific fear of racial abuse. These details appear in internal emails obtained through the Colorado Open Records Act. The public explanation for the forfeit differed from the private correspondence. The school initially stated the Oct. 9 homecoming game was canceled due to a shortage of coaches. No mention of racism appeared in that initial announcement.

Jackson, a Black man serving as both coach and dean, wrote to district leadership on Oct. 5. He described the decision as a matter of student safety rather than athletic strategy. He stated he would not knowingly place students, managers, and families in a setting where they might face racial hostility. Jackson demanded that the allegations be fully investigated before Air Academy agreed to play again. He called for concrete steps to prevent a repeat of the incident.

The dispute traces back to a Sept. 24 football game between Lutheran and Sand Creek High School. Sand Creek cheerleaders and their coach reported that Lutheran students and community members used racist remarks and gestures. They said the group called Black cheerleaders Harriet Tubman and used slurs. Some attendees whipped belts toward the girls and told them to go back to where they came from. Jackson also cited reports from Rampart High School staff regarding similar behavior during their games against Lutheran.

Jackson noted that the complaints came from two different schools across three games. The incidents occurred at both the high school and middle school levels. He characterized the district's initial response as a slap in the face. He asked Academy District 20 to formally support the decision to forfeit and to share that position with Lutheran and the Colorado High School Activities Association. The district did not immediately provide that backing.

Barry Clark, the Air Academy flag football coach, emailed a parent on Oct. 5 saying the district would not support the school if it declined to play. Assistant Superintendent Becky Harris sent another email instructing Principal Amy Ripperger to respect Jackson's decision. However, Harris directed Ripperger not to inform the staff or students about the reasoning behind the forfeit. Ripperger later wrote on Oct. 7 that the team had zero coaches willing to coach on Friday night.

The district issued a statement on Oct. 8 explaining that individual decisions affected coaching participation. It said officials worked with both schools to hold the game by limiting visiting fans and adding security. Mark Belcher, the district communications chief, stated that individual staff emails do not always reflect official district positions. Jackson told reporters he is not allowed to speak with the media.

The Colorado High School Activities Association found that Lutheran spectators used discriminatory language across multiple football and basketball events. The group threatened suspension unless the school completes a corrective action plan. Dan Gehrke, the Lutheran executive director, said the school condemns racism and will meet every requirement. He noted that Lutheran offered a spectator plan and a meeting for head coaches.

Lutheran plays Montrose on Friday, marking its first game since the controversy emerged. A coalition of Lutheran parents launched an online fundraiser to pay for security and legal action. The group is targeting CHSAA, media outlets, and individuals who accused the school community of racism. As of Thursday, the campaign had raised more than $53,000 toward a $500,000 goal.