DeKALB – Parents and students rallied Tuesday around a longtime DeKalb High School wrestling coach who was relieved of his coaching duties after he was found negligent for failing to stop a student from being hit with a belt and racially harassed on a bus.

At least 15 people urged DeKalb School District 428 board members to retain Lance Gackowski as an assistant wrestling coach and head coach for boys’ and girls’ tennis. Gackowski, who has coached wrestling in DeKalb for about 25 years, was relieved of his coaching duties Jan. 26, but remains a high school science teacher.

“If disciplinary action has to happen, don’t take away his coaching ability,” said Melissa Butts, who drove an hour and 15 minutes from Tampico to be at the meeting. “Find something else.”