MILFORD, Ohio — Milford Athletic Director Aaron Zupka has been placed on administrative leave, and a third-party investigation has been conducted, but the reason behind the decision remains unclear.
A spokesperson with Milford Exempted Village Schools told us Friday morning that Zupka was placed on administrative leave and that an investigation was conducted by The Ennis Britton Consulting Group.
"Milford Exempted Village Schools does not share specific comments or details regarding staff personnel matters; however, I can confirm that our athletic director was placed on administrative leave," the spokesperson told us. "His placement was not due to concerns related to student safety, staff conflict or financial matters, but rather for other personnel reasons. An investigation was conducted by The Ennis Britton Consulting Group."
According to its LinkedIn page, The Ennis Britton Consulting Group provides leadership training programs for school districts, nonprofits and other business professionals across Ohio.
"The services provided by the Ennis Britton Consulting Group are not law-related services and are separate and distinct from the legal services provided by Ennis Britton Co., LPA," reads the company's profile. "The relationship between the client and EBC is not protected by attorney-client privilege."
Learn more about the allegations against Zupka in the video below:
We have requested a copy of the group's investigation and any correspondence between school officials about Zupka's leave from the school district.
We spoke on the phone with Zupka's attorney, Paige Richardson. She works for the Cincinnati-based law firm Freking Myers & Reul LLC.
Richardson said Zupka being placed on leave "has nothing to do with allegations of sexual misconduct or mandated reporting." She said the reasons are due to other employment issues.
A police report we obtained from the Miami Township Police Department says that several people went to the police station and requested to file a complaint about the Milford school district.
"They stated they believed and had evidence that [REDACTED] was having inappropriate relationships with students on the team," reads one officer's report.
Another officer's narrative goes on to say she was notified by the Investigations Supervisor about the allegation, which was tied to a coach at the high school, though much of that portion of the report is redacted. It says someone who was terminated as coach of a girls' team in April, "was 'allegedly having inappropriate sexual relationships with multiple female [REDACTED] on the team' while he was a [REDACTED]."
The report says the complainants alleged this had been going on for a couple of years and that both Zupka and the school district was failing to report it.
"[REDACTED] stated that [REDACTED] showed him 'photographic evidence' and told [REDACTED] that 'staff at the school were aware,'" reads the police report, which is 26 pages long. "[REDACTED] stated that [REDACTED] showed him the photos in the cafeteria at the high school. [REDACTED] had left the [REDACTED] position in 2023. No further information was provided regarding the images shown or of any potential victims involved."
According to the police report, one of the complainants told police they'd met with Zupka in 2024 to discuss concerns, but the allegations were never officially reported.
The allegations made in the police report include that the coach had prioritized two female athletes over the rest of the team, holding private lessons with just them. Complainants also alleged that the coach took one of those athletes on a family vacation with him.
"In [REDACTED] email, he stated he reported this to the athletic director," the report says. "Hand written notes on the email provided by Jennie outlined this paragraph and stated 'never shared any of this.'"
The report goes on to say the coach met with Zupka and was subsequently fired.
The Jennie mentioned in the police report apparently met with one of the complainants and told them she'd met with four "potential witnesses" and obtained written statements from them.
"The girls interviewed by Jennie did not make any disclosures of physical or sexual abuse from either [REDACTED]," the report says. "One athlete stated that a [REDACTED] is 'touchy' with certain females and felt uncomfortable when the [REDACTED] wiped away her tears on one occasion. [REDACTED] mentioned that she overheard a rumor that a [REDACTED] shared a room with a player at a state competition. [REDACTED] stated that the [REDACTED] lays on the [REDACTED] next to the girls when waiting for practice to start. [REDACTED] stated she observed a [REDACTED] carry out a teammate after the teammate was injured. [REDACTED] did not identify the [REDACTED] she was referring to, nor the teammates involved.
"The other girls who made statements said that [REDACTED] was a good [REDACTED] and thought that he was coaching different girls in different ways. Another athlete stated that she did not feel uncomfortable, but felt that the [REDACTED] should work with everyone instead of focusing on two individuals."
In the end, the police report says the case was closed "due to no victims, insufficient evidence that supports the elements of a crime."
During Thursday night's school board meeting, the room was packed with students and parents, and some students sat on the floor of the room.
Some parents spoke during the meeting's public comment section, telling the school board about their concerns that Zupka had not reported allegations of abuse.
"What we are facing now is not just a personnel issue, it's a test of this district's integrity," Kathleen Faulkner, who identified herself as a parent in the district, said. "Across the country, from Penn State to Michigan State, to the women’s gymnastics program, we see what happens when leaders and athletics fail to report abuse and others choose to protect them."
She and other parents accused the district's booster president and other coaches in the athletic department of working to cover up the allegations, to protect reputations.
"Here we have an athletic director who failed to report abuse allegations, but also covered up other programs’ misconduct and who disregarded district policies meant to protect students," she said. "That is not leadership, that is betrayal."
Faulkner went on to call for the resignation of the athletic booster's president, who she said "shielded" the person in the district against whom the allegations were apparently made.
She also asked that all coaches "who have signed their support to someone who has publicly documented evidence of misconduct without considering the consequences for the students who endured the abuse and toxic culture that was created" undergo education on abuse prevention, mandatory reporting and ethical responsibilities.
Conor Peck, head coach of Milford's men's lacrosse team, spoke after Faulkner in support of Zupka.
"Yesterday, I sent the unified letter signed by over 30 Milford High School coaches representing over 20 athletic programs," he said. "We wrote to express our strong support for Athletic Director Aaron Zupka. Many of those coaches, students and parents of students are here tonight, or following closely, because we believe Aaron is an honorable, effective and high-performing leader, among the best this district has."
Peck urged the school board to listen to what he said is the majority of the public, staff members and students who have supported Zupka. He also told them to lead with transparency, integrity and improved communication, like they said they would when they campaigned for school board.
"These words mean more than private executive sessions or closed-door meetings with disgruntled individuals trying to tear others down," Peck said. "They mean listening to the people you serve and standing behind those who serve with excellence, even when they make minor and rare procedural mistakes."
Peck's comments were met with strong applause from many of the attendees in the room. After Peck, several other coaches stepped up to the podium to support Zupka, telling the school board that he was a good athletic director who is dedicated to serving the students and coaches.
Multiple students also spoke at the meeting in support of Zupka, detailing how his work as athletic director has impacted their athletics and their views of their own future.
"On a more personal note, Aaron has been a huge part in helping me achieve my lifelong goal: Earning the opportunity to dive for the United States Naval Academy," said one student. "While that dream may have seemed far-fetched to others at the time, Aaron never doubted me. His encouragement, guidance and belief in me played a major role in helping me achieve that level of competition."
Over a dozen parents, students, faculty members and members of the public spoke at the meeting; in all, two people were critical of Zupka and the investigation surrounding him, while the rest all spoke in his defense.
