Suspended Curie coach Mike Oliver still waiting for CPS decision

The number one team in the area has been without its coach for eight games. Curie’s Mike Oliver has been suspended since late January. Chicago Public Schools removed him from his security position after an allegation of a physical altercation with a student.

Oliver is extremely frustrated, but has remained patient and believes that CPS will clear him when it finishes investigating.

“People [at Curie] have told me the investigators came out, looked at cameras and stuff but that was it,” Oliver said. “I’m just sitting at home. I’m out in limbo and I don’t know anything. I’m not sure where the investigation is going to finish.”

Oliver met with Rev. Jesse Jackson last week and said the Rainbow PUSH Coalition has been supportive.

“There is some stuff they are planning with some local pastors,” Oliver said. “There could be something big. We are just trying to see where this goes next week.”

The Condors picked up a big win at Oak Forest on Saturday and have one more major showdown before the playoffs on Wednesday at No. 5 Notre Dame.

“It is a tough situation but we have to keep our heads on track,” Condors senior Savieon Williams said. “We know what the big prize is and we have to focus on that, winning the state championship.”

The incident is alleged to have happened during Oliver’s job as a security guard at Curie, not as a coach, and it involved a student who isn’t on the basketball team. Several parents of basketball players held a rally in support of Oliver on Feb. 7 where they demanded answers from CPS.

“No one is communicating from CPS,” Oliver said. “Why do I have to make a spectacle of this? I just want a fair investigation.”

Oliver, a Curie grad, led the Condors to the Class 4A state title in 2015-16. He previously was suspended by the IHSA in 2016 and by CPS in 2014 after an eligibility scandal.

Oliver has compiled a 542-133 record in 27 seasons.

“I’ve worked for CPS in security for 27 years, and I’ve never had an allegation against me,” Oliver said. “I’ve never even had a write-up from a principal or a parent conference.”