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Players pack courtroom in support of Saugus football coach fighting termination

NEWBURYPORT, Mass. — Saugus High School football players packed a courtroom Thursday to support their head coach who’s fighting to get his job back.

Anthony Nalen was suspended last month after Superintendent of Schools Dr. David DeRuosi, Jr. went to police accusing Nalen of hazing a player.

Police found no evidence of wrongdoing, but Nalen received a notice Tuesday his contract is being terminated.

Nalen was in Essex Superior Court in Newburyport seeking an injunction that would allow him to return to his coaching position until a decision is made on a lawsuit he filed against the school system.

Nalen is accused of forcing a player to wear his boxer briefs during a practice.

His players came out in force to show their support.

"Everyone's emotional about it,” said Christian Correia, a player. “Practices aren't the same. Nothing's the same. It's just, we need the guy back."

"That's our family. He's our family,” said Jack Devereux, another player. “That guy would do anything for us."

Parents are also coming to Nalen’s defense.

“He is 100% safe,” said Liz Devereux, a parent of a player. “He is the best thing to happen to Saugus football in I can't tell you how long.”

Nalen’s attorney, Michael Castano, pointed to a text message the player who was allegedly hazed sent to Nalen after he was suspended.

"It says basically my mother and I didn't make this complaint, the school told us we had to come in and make this complaint," said Castano.

Attorneys for the district claim Nalen was fired over the hazing, but for not being responsible for his players at practice.

"Really, the basis of the notice of intent to terminate was not the actions on the football field, but the plaintiff's statement that he wasn't responsible for the students on the football field,” said Kevin Smith, an attorney for Saugus Public Schools.

Castano claims the whole case stems from a personal vendetta DeRuosi and the school committee may have against Nalen for not backing them up with an issue involving a football player this past spring.

The judge didn’t issue a ruling Thursday. She said should would take the arguments under advisement.