DEARBORN — Outrage erupted last week in the community when Dearborn residents learned that Edsel Ford High School Varsity Basketball Coach Ibrahim Baydoun was being replaced after a 17-year tenure as coach at the High School. 

Only several days after the announcement however, a decision was made by the Edsel Ford Administration to reinstate Baydoun’s position as coach.  The decision came soon after community pressure rose, pressuring the administration to rescind their initial decision. 

According to sources, the Athletic Director at Edsel Ford, Robert Picano, was looking to interview new candidates for the Varsity Basketball Coach position for reasons unknown. A three-person committee, which consisted of parents, was appointed to interview candidates who they felt would be suitable for the position. Baydoun was given an opportunity to be interviewed for the position as well.

The committee consisted of two African American parents and one Caucasian parent. Many residents pointed out that the committee did not have a representative from the Arab American community. By the end of last week, Baydoun had gotten the news that two potential candidates were being considered for the position and one of them would, most likely, get the position instead. 

When community members learned about Baydoun’s firing, many were shocked and expressed their opinions online. Baydoun had garnered plenty of attention on the Dearborn Area Community Members Facebook page, as well as on the Dearborn Patch online newsletter. 

Residents had questioned why a veteran Basketball coach, who had helped the High School win over 200 games in the past 17 years and who was inducted into Dearborn’s Recreational Department Hall of Fame in 2008, would be fired with little explanation. 

Coach Baydoun.

Much speculation and numerous allegations circulated online over why he may have been fired initially. Some suggested that some parents and administrators were dissatisfied with Baydoun, because they felt that he was biased towards Arab American players. Those allegations were quickly dispelled however, as others have noted that Edsel Ford’s Varsity Basketball team has plenty of diversity and also includes several African American and Caucasian players. 

Others also pointed out that Baydoun’s son, Jihad, a current student at Edsel Ford, is the captain of the Varsity Basketball team, leading some to speculate that favoritism was being practiced. It should be noted that Jihad is also the captain of the High School’s football team, which is a team that Baydoun does not coach. Jihad is also one of the School’s top academic students, with a GPA that is over a 4.0.

The attention that this matter received from residents and parents, who wrote letters, sent out emails and made phone calls to the school to complain about the firing of Baydoun led Principal Scott Casebolt to arrange a private meeting with Baydoun to discuss some issues last weekend. Community members had already organized to attend the school board meeting on May 13 to demand explanations for his firing. 

According to Principal Casebolt, during their three hour meeting, concerns were identified and discussed by all parties, and by the end of the meeting, the school had decided to offer him the position once again, which Baydoun accepted. On Wednesday afternoon, Baydoun also sent out a letter, thanking the community for supporting him during the entire ordeal: 

“I am flushed with emotions and want you to know that your support and kind messages were, not only a comfort, but also a source of strength for my family and me during this stressful period. Despite the adversity that I endured, I am grateful to report that after meeting with Mr. Scott Casebolt, principal of Edsel Ford High School, I was offered the opportunity to return as head coach of the boy’s varsity basketball team. During my meeting with Mr. Casebolt, I was assured of the support necessary to move forward. Having spent hours discussing the matters of concern, Mr. Casebolt and I felt comfortable with the outcome and, therefore, I have decided to accept the position that I have passionately held for the past 17 years, inspiring countless student athletes to achieve their desired endeavors,” Baydoun said in his statement.  

While many parents were happy to hear the news of Baydoun’s reinstatement during Monday’s School Board Meeting, some still wanted to know why he was fired in the first place, and why other parents weren’t asked to be on the hiring committee. Phone calls to Edsel Ford were not returned, however Principal Casebolt did release the following statement to the Dearborn Patch:

“While we will not discuss our concerns publicly.  Coach Baydoun and myself agreed that we will work together on addressing any concerns that either party has, if and when they occur.”

Dearborn Public School Superintendent Brian Whiston also commented on the matter to The Arab American News: 

“I think everybody is in agreement to move forward and, with that said, we are excited to continue having him as a coach. He’s a great guy, who has done a lot of things for the community and spent money out of his own pockets. There’s no question that he’s an outstanding gentleman.”