Air Academy Coach Cites Racial Abuse Threats in Emails Before Forfeit

Air Academy High School football coach Waymond Jackson informed district officials on Oct. 5 that he would not send his team to play Lutheran High School of Parker due to fears of racial abuse, according to internal emails obtained via the Colorado Open Records Act. The school publicly attributed the forfeit of its Oct. 9 homecoming game to a shortage of coaches, omitting any mention of the racism allegations that drove the decision.

The dispute traces back to a Sept. 24 game between Lutheran and Sand Creek High School. Sand Creek cheerleaders and their coach reported that Lutheran students and community members used slurs, whipped belts toward Black cheerleaders, and called them Harriet Tubman. Jackson also cited complaints from Rampart High School staff regarding discriminatory behavior directed at their families. He noted these reports spanned two schools, three games, and two levels of play.

In an Oct. 5 email to a district official, Jackson stated the decision was not about football but about whether kids were safe. He said he would not knowingly place students, managers, and families in a setting where they might face racial abuse unless the allegations were fully investigated with concrete accountability steps. Flag football coach Barry Clark later told a parent that the district would not back the school if it declined to play.

District leadership appeared to prefer a quiet resolution. Becky Harris, the district's assistant superintendent for learning services, emailed Principal Amy Ripperger, who respected Jackson's decision but directed him not to inform his staff or students. By Oct. 7, Ripperger wrote that zero coaches were willing to coach on Friday night. On Oct. 8, the district released a statement saying individual decisions affected coaching availability and that it had added security to the game.

The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) found that Lutheran spectators and participants used discriminatory language across multiple events. The organization threatened suspension unless Lutheran completes a corrective action plan. Lutheran executive director Dan Gehrke said the school condemns racism and will meet every CHSAA requirement. Coronado High School also forfeited its game against Lutheran.

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