DEKALB COUNTY, Ala.—After almost a year and a half of delays and legal wrangling, former Fyffe High School Boys Basketball Coach Neal Thrash will have his day in court. Alabama’s Ninth Judicial Circuit Court has announced that Judge Jeremy Taylor will once again hear the case of Thrash vs. DeKalb County Board of Education (BOE) at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016 at the DeKalb County Courthouse on Grand Ave S in Fort Payne, Ala.

The Thrash case dominated headlines in 2014 and has remained a hot topic in 2015 as Thrash and Taylor and many in the community have awaited the announcement of a new court date. The issue began when Thrash was relieved of his coaching duties and placed on administrative leave in early April 2014. DeKalb County Schools Superintendent Hugh Taylor made the unilateral decision to dismiss Thrash without taking the matter before the full board and its members. Taylor cited allegations of misconduct and bullying by Thrash following an internal investigation.

Thrash initially filed for resignation, but then rescinded the resignation days later and filed suit against the DeKalb County Board of Education. The suit claims that Superintendent Taylor improperly placed Thrash on leave and removed him as Fyffe’s boys head basketball coach.

The case was originally heard in 2014 by Ninth Circuit Judge Jeremy Taylor. Judge Taylor ruled that at the time of the incident at hand Thrash should have been permitted a hearing before the DeKalb County Board of Education concerning his suspension before any decision was made. On Sept. 14, 2014, Judge Taylor set a court date for Nov. 17, 2014, for Thrash to make a case for the hearing.

In response, DeKalb BOE attorneys immediately filed a writ of mandamus appealing to the Alabama Supreme Court to reverse the ruling by Judge Taylor. This brought the case to an immediate halt. In addition to their appeal to the Supreme Court, the BOE was able to delay the Nov. 17, 2014 court date indefinitely by also requesting a stay to halt circuit court proceedings for as long as it would take the Supreme Court to reach a decision. Ultimately it would take just under a year.

Last month the Alabama Supreme Court announced their long-awaited decision to deny the BOE appeal, ultimately sending the case back to Judge Taylor in the Ninth Circuit. Taylor recently set the new court date of Thursday, Jan. 7.

Thrash confirmed that he has offered settlement terms, agreeing if he is reinstated as head coach at Fyffe High School, he will drop his suit against DeKalb BOE and cease any attempt at recovering monetary compensation from the BOE for back pay. Superintendent Taylor said last month he had no intention of reinstating Thrash. Southern Torch will continue to follow this story closely. Stay tuned.