Chelci Sila, the wife of Green Bay East High School football coach Niko Sila, PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The wife of the Green Bay East High School football coach put on paid administrative leave is demanding transparency from the school district.
The district has said it cannot comment on the situation involving Niko Sila — who is also the school’s manager of engagement, attendance and advocacy — because it is a personnel matter.
Sila was put on leave last Thursday, the night before the 120th football game between Green Bay East and West.
“It was the biggest game for them,” said Chelci Sila, Sila’s wife. “It could have waited until Monday then to have been addressed.”
Chelci says she feels that way because she feels the allegations did not rise to the level of immediate dismissal.
“I think that they [the allegations] are absolutely petty and can be misconstrued and taken out of context,” said Chelci.
State law prohibits the school district from publicly releasing the allegations against Sila, but Chelci says she and her husband want them to be shared.
“They [the school district] can’t give answers to anything, so they like to remain quiet, let people speculate, let the mental anguish happen to those involved, let them get fired or leave,” said Chelci.
She believes the mental anguish includes East’s football players, other students and families who she says rely on her husband.
A letter Chelci shared from the school district to her husband states he cannot contact any students or staff while on leave or he could be fired.
“The biggest game, you’re the head coach, why aren’t you here?” said Chelci about what students were likely left wondering. “Of course he’s going to have to answer to that.”
Malik Lynch was Sila’s chosen representative in a meeting with district administrators when Sila was informed he was being put on leave.
Lynch said there was a list of about 20 allegations the district said it received about Sila, including him telling students that administrators don’t know how to work with kids, that he gave a player a ride home after a game, had students buy him food and he made players do push-ups for cursing.
Chelci says her husband denies some of the allegations and believes the rest were taken out of context.
“Like the push-ups — yeah, he made the boys do push-ups because they were cursing. Absolutely,” said Chelci.
Despite not having confirmation on the allegations against Sila, students and parents are showing him support, including a Monday protest outside the school and an online petition.
“We need to demand transparency on this one,” said Chelci. “He needs to be able to review these claims and allegations and be able to talk to the community.”
Chelci says they have not been told what could come next. The district has also not shared that information.
Those who have been willing to speak out — including students, parents and Chelci Sila — believe another coach brought forward the allegations in an effort to take over the football program.
Sila has been a district employee since 2018 and this was his third year as East’s head football coach.
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