Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 12, 1991                   TAG: 9104120572
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

COACH'S SUIT MOSTLY DISMISSED

Circuit Judge Kenneth Devore, in a hearing in chambers, ruled that the only valid aspect of the suit concerned Bishop's $2,000 coaching stipend.

His other claims that his dismissal as the varsity basketball coach in 1988 damaged his reputation and caused emotional distress had no basis in Virginia law, Devore said.

In the suit, Bishop alleged that School Board Chairman Arnold Simmons wanted him fired because he did not give his son enough playing time during the 1987-88 season.

Bishop also claimed that the firing violated an oral contract promising his return the following season and he said he was never given a good reason why he was fired.

But Devore ruled in favor of the School Board, which had argued that Bishop served at the discretion of the board and could be dismissed at any time.

"Essentially that means they had the legal power to fire Coach Bishop, no matter what the circumstances," Bishop's attorney Dennis Brumberg said Thursday.

The only issue remaining, he said, was whether there was a breach of Bishop's oral contract. If there was, he would be entitled to only the $2,000 stipend.

No date has been set for a hearing on the stipend and Brumberg said it could be settled out of court. He said it was too early to decide if an appeal would be filed on the rest of Devore's ruling.

Bishop, who still teaches at the high school, had coached boys' varsity basketball since 1975, twice taking teams to the state finals. He was named the Roanoke Times & World-News coach of the year in 1986-87 and was president of the Virginia High School Coaches Association when he was fired as coach. His record was 80-20 over the last four years he coached.

Simmons is no longer on the School Board.

Superintendent Omar Ross, who also had been named in the suit, said he was just happy that after so much time a decision had been made.

"The fact that we have reached this point means it's close to being settled, and that has got to be good for all parties involved," he said. "Maybe now we can get back to the business at hand."