Marblehead super keeping quiet on coach complaint

The Marblehead school administrators did not comment Friday on a complaint filed by parent Michael Morris in Essex County Superior Court against football coach Doug Chernovetz.”It’s a personnel matter, and unfortunately I cannot go into details about it,” said School Superintendent G. Paul Dulac.Morris, father of junior Timothy Morris, accuses Chernovetz, who has already been suspended for two games for using chewing tobacco in front of his players, of “aberrant behavior.”Morris’ complaints – that Chernovetz used racial slurs and profanity – are not new. He leveled similar charges against the coach last year and, according to Dulac, the matter was reviewed and resolved.”The matter was, I believe, fairly reviewed and that the determinations were consistent as well, following the process.”We are in a different situation now, obviously, and we just cannot comment,” he said.Attorney Andrea Bell, representing the school district, also refused comment.”All I can say is that we are following through on our legal obligation (to the school department) relative to the case that’s been filed,” she said.The conflict between the Morrises and Chernovetz began last fall when, after eight games, Timothy Morris left the team.According to the complaint, Morris and his son met with athletic director Michael Plansky last November to assure the AD that Timothy Morris was on board for basketball.”The Morrises (sic) were concerned that the head basketball coach may question (Timothy Morris’) commitment because of fears that Chernovetz may disparage Morris’ reputation,” the complaint reads.The complaint continues that while the Morrises were waiting outside Plansky’s office, “Chernovetz repeatedly passed back and forth by the office, looking at them in a menacing manner.”The Morrises allege that the next day, Chernovetz – a teacher in the Wilmington school department – confronted Timothy Morris in the school, yelled at him, and accused him of alcohol abuse.”Throughout this encounter,” the complaint reads, “Morris feared for his physical safety.”Attorneys Gerard F. Malone and Michael F. Neuner, both of Boston, are representing Morris in the complaint.