A high school volleyball coach is taking legal action against a school district and several of its officials, alleging wrongful termination and discrimination. On November 20, 2025, Casie Parker filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan against the Public Schools of Petoskey, Principal Deidra Gamble, Athletic Director Joel Dohm, teacher Nate Gross, and parent Sara Jonker.
Casie Parker has been a prominent figure in Michigan’s volleyball community for over two decades. Her career took a drastic turn when she was terminated from her position as varsity volleyball coach at Petoskey High School in 2023. Parker claims her dismissal was not only unjust but also damaging to her reputation within both the local and broader volleyball communities. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of violating Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA), and other federal and state laws. Parker alleges that gender discrimination played a significant role in her termination, pointing out disparities in treatment between male and female coaches at the school. “As one of only two female head coaches at PHS,” Parker stated, “I was excluded from this boy’s club and subjected to differing standards.”
The complaint details numerous instances where Parker felt marginalized due to her gender. She claims that resources readily available to male sports teams were denied to her team, such as water jugs and gym access keys for assistant coaches. Furthermore, she recounts ongoing harassment by Nate Gross, whose daughter played on the team, with little intervention from school authorities. The situation escalated when Parker received what she describes as an unwarranted negative evaluation from Dohm after years of positive feedback.
Parker’s daughter K.P., who attends Petoskey High School and plays on its sports teams, is also named as a plaintiff in the case. K.P. reportedly faced retaliatory actions due to her mother’s conflict with the school administration—experiencing exclusion from team activities and enduring rumors that affected her mental well-being.
In response to these grievances, Parker seeks various forms of relief from the court: reinstatement or compensation for lost wages and benefits; damages for emotional distress; punitive damages; attorney fees; and any additional relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Parker is attorney Grace Cathryn Cretcher from NACHTLAW P.C., based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The case has been assigned Case ID 1:25-cv-01509 under an undisclosed judge’s supervision.
Source: 125cv01509_Casie_Park_v_Public_Schools_Complaint_Weastern_District_of_Michigan.pdf
