In June of 2000, the Orono School District chose to hire a swim coach who had been terminated by the School Board of Roseville School District, ISD 623 in Minnesota just four months earlier for sexual abuse and harassment of his athletes. Notably, the lawsuit that he filed against his former employer, as excerpted below, was initiated six months after he had already been appointed as the Head Girls and Boys Swim Coach at Orono. Despite this troubling history, he retained his position as the head coach of both the girls’ and boys’ swim teams at Orono for a period of 17 years, until a courageous 8th grade varsity athlete came forward and didn’t accept the initial pressure to “go-away”, didn’t bow down to excessive bullying and pressure from “peers”. The investigation uncovered eight additional current and former athletes who persevered through the perceived “wall of liability” at the Orono School District.
Since then, the individual who initially stepped forward has received numerous contacts from past athletes who were previously silenced from speaking up in support due to concerns about public perception and the perceived impact on the family of the primary victim. These individuals have quietly come forward with their stories, further exposing a troubling pattern of silence and fear that permeated the community. Despite the enduring barriers that prevented them from speaking out earlier, the passage of time and personal growth have shed a glaring spotlight on the detrimental effects of the toxic culture of secrecy and fear that persisted for far too long. Finally, the truth is beginning to emerge, revealing the need for comprehensive changes to address the harmful impact of such a culture and ensure the protection of vulnerable individuals from abuse and misconduct at the Orono School District.
Buecher v. Independent School District No. 623
“The school board met as scheduled on the evening of February 24, 2000. Prior to this meeting, the school district officials who had investigated the matter submitted a memorandum to the school board setting forth a summary of the conclusions that they had reached regarding the accusations against plaintiff (Buecher). After considering the memo and hearing the testimony of several parents who were in attendance to express their views on the matter, the school board passed a resolution discharging plaintiff. Plaintiff was notified of his discharge by certified mail dated February 24, 2000. Plaintiff did not file for state judicial review following his termination nor did he request a review of his termination by the state commissioner of children, families and learning.”
The summary of conclusions that the board reviewed included the following:
1. Buecher pulled down a female swimmer’s swim suit exposing her breasts and then stuffed paper wrappers down her suit.
2. Buecher asked out individual female swimmers while they were still in high school. One girl accompanied Buecher to a casino after she turned 18, was asked to attend a wedding with him and was taken to his home. Other girls accompanied him to concerts or dinner.
3. Buecher used the “F” word in anger when speaking to one or more swimmers.
4. Buecher asked some girls swimmers to bend over and allow him to inspect areas of their bodies where they had shaved.
5. In written communications to female swimmers, Buecher made very personal statements, such as, “you’ve been very special to me and I’ve always wanted the best for you . . . for the last few years I’ve kind of grown attached to you emotionally — you started meaning something to me (yes, it does happen to coaches) . . . .”
6. In another letter, to a swimmer, Buecher stated, “I kind of heard why you haven’t wanted to keep in touch. Just wanted to say I’m sorry that I’ve ended up making you hate me. I didn’t think having feelings for someone and wanting to have a close friend would cause this, but I guess I screwed up. Anyhow, I still want you to know you are still important to me and if you are ever interested in lunch or dinner, you’re always welcomed.”
7. Buecher wrote a letter to the mother of a swimmer chastising mother and daughter for not thanking him for graduation gifts he gave to the daughter.
8. Buecher made numerous sexually suggestive comments to girls swimmers.
Interesting Notes:
It is imperative to note that in the filed documentation, there is a conspicuous absence of any challenge by Buecher to the actual accusations levied against him by his former athletes. Rather, the challenge centers on matters pertaining to due process rights and property rights. This glaring omission further underscores the gravity of the allegations and the serious implications that accompany them.
I have had heart-wrenching conversations with several of the girls mentioned above, who are now wives and mothers, yet still carry the painful impact of this man’s actions. I have seen, with my own eyes, the disgustingly inappropriate letters that he wrote to minor athletes, holding the original copies in my trembling hands. The victims pain is palpable, and it is a sad and sobering realization. There is so much more to this story than what has been documented in the court ruling above. The depth of the abuse and its lasting effects go beyond what can be captured in public records, and it is truly gut-wrenching to comprehend.
He was a master at his craft, skillfully manipulating and separating his targets from his supporters, just like many others who perpetrate such heinous acts. He had a special knack for grooming parents, gaining their trust and deceiving them with a facade of competence. It’s important to note that coaching wasn’t truly his main objective; coaching simply provided him with the access he needed to carry out his malicious desires. The calculated and insidious nature of his actions is truly chilling, and it is a stark reminder of how perpetrators can hide in plain sight, preying on the vulnerabilities of those around them.
What set him apart was his unique approach to targeting and victimizing individuals. Unlike the common pattern of grooming, he employed a strategy of berating, demeaning, isolating, and humiliating his victims. He even went so far as to turn other children against them, fostering hatred towards the victims among those he had manipulated. As a result, when any concerns were raised, the victims were labeled as “troubled kids,” further undermining their credibility and leaving them vulnerable and voiceless. The sinister tactics he employed to silence and shame his victims are deeply troubling and highlight the insidious nature of his abuse.
CONCLUSION
Since plaintiff (Buecher) has not demonstrated a violation of his constitutional right to procedural due process, defendants (Roseville, ISD 623) are entitled to summary judgment on both the property and liberty interest claims.
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that defendants’ motion for summary judgment [Docket No. 19] is granted in its entirety and plaintiff’s claims are dismissed with prejudice.
LET JUDGMENT BE ENTERED ACCORDINGLY.
Buecher’s lawsuit was “dismissed with prejudice.” However, despite this clear legal outcome, Ms. Lulling and others repeatedly propagated a false statement akin to “he sued, he won” without regard for factual accuracy. It begs the question whether they even bothered to read the lawsuit in question.
This brings us to Orono in 2017/18. With a sense of deja vu, 17 years later, new but alarmingly similar allegations against Buecher came to light, prompting a thorough investigation by the Orono School District, as mandated by Title IX requirements. After a two month investigation where the coach was placed on leave, the school board was poised to review the findings and proceed with a final disposition of the case. However, to leverage a known Minnesota Statute loophole, Buecher, guided by legal counsel, chose to tender his resignation less than two hours before the crucial board meeting.
Despite the severity of the allegations and the multiple current and former Orono athletes who bravely came forward to support the victim, the school board chose to accept his resignation. Shockingly, in accordance with the Minnesota Statute, the entire investigation, including its findings and the anticipated outcome, now lie permanently buried, effectively shielding Buecher from any further scrutiny or consequences. The grave implications of this turn of events cannot be overstated, as justice appears to have been thwarted and the truth silenced once again.
Ultimately, his coaching career came to an abrupt halt as he resigned from Orono Schools in the spring of 2018, never again assuming a position of authority over another child.
Safe Sport Dad 
Leave a comment