A Bucks County Catholic high school coach resigned after he was accused of running a smear campaign against a rival team’s stars.
An article on PhillyVoice.com accused John Gallagher, the girl’s basketball coach at Archbishop Wood High School, of spreading rumors about two star players at rival Neumann-Goretti, the number one ranked girl’s high school basketball team in the country.
Gallagher allegedly sent anonymous emails to college recruiters about Neumann-Goretti High School Senior Forward Christina Aborowa and her teammate Felicia Aiyeotan, both from Nigeria. The emails allegedly accused them of being illegal immigrants who lied about their ages in order to play. Aborowa signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Texas.
After PhillyVoice.com reported it, the story was circulated in several other publications, including Deadspin. Gallagher resigned Monday amid the allegations.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia did not confirm the allegations against Gallagher. A spokesperson stood by Aborowa and Aiyeotan however.
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“Any student from a foreign country playing on any sports team in an Archdiocesan school would be of the appropriate age and in the country legally,” the spokesperson said.
The two girls are staying in the United States with a host parent who lives in Manayunk.
NBC10 reached out to Gallagher for comment but have not yet heard back from him.
