Personnel files show all four Olentangy Orange girls soccer coaches were placed on paid administrative leave within days of each other amid the district's hazing investigation.
ABC 6/FOX 28 reported the contents of the personnel records on Oct. 13. The leave letters cite "allegations of your professional conduct" and state each coach was placed on leave "until further notice." Assistant varsity coach Steven Goebel's leave began Sept. 30. Varsity head coach Allie Sieradski, JV Blue coach Payton Kaufman and JV Orange coach Samantha Vaughn were placed on leave Oct. 2.
The station also obtained the file for Olentangy Orange athletic director Andre Nash. Nash is not on leave, but his file contains a written reprimand from May 2025 for not following the hiring process for the school's hockey coach. That reprimand predates the hazing investigation.
Nash's performance evaluations flagged communication as a recurring concern. His latest review encouraged more effective and timely communication, noting significant improvement while identifying efficiency and attention to detail as continuing growth areas.
Some parents have raised separate concerns about Nash's role in the hazing case. NBC4 reported parents’ concerns about allegations that the athletic director asked players to delete video evidence. The report did not establish whether that occurred.
The hazing allegations surfaced publicly in September. Videos showed Olentangy Orange girls soccer players forcing hot dogs into new teammates' mouths while their wrists were zip-tied and their bodies wrapped in plastic wrap, ABC 6/FOX 28 reported. Six seniors were removed from the team, and the district said it disciplined the students involved.
The Delaware County Sheriff's Office initially declined to pursue criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence and limited cooperation from involved parties. But in an updated statement Oct. 1, the sheriff's office said it would collaborate with the Delaware County Prosecutor's Office to determine whether charges are appropriate after receiving additional tips from parents, according to 10TV.
"This board has zero tolerance for hazing — zero tolerance for hazing," Board President Brandon Lester said at the Oct. 8 board meeting, the first since the allegations became public.
Superintendent Todd Meyer said at that meeting that school leadership will present an anti-hazing plan at the Oct. 22 Board of Education meeting.
