Practice videos, two resignations, a $30 million suit
Videos from August 2024 Hoover High football practices led the head coach and a defensive coordinator to resign within days. Two players’ families are suing for $30 million; the board is defending on immunity.
Where it stands
Unclear
Hits residents
6/10
Years covered
2024–2025
Sources
4 linked
- $30M
- Damages sought across three legal counts
- 2 days
- From the coaches being placed on leave to their resignations
As of 2024-12
As of 2024-08
What happened
Hoover High hired Drew Gilmer as head football coach in January 2024. That August, videos circulated showing a coach, in one instance, appearing to pull a player’s head toward his groin and thrust his hips toward the player’s face; a second instance was described by the families’ attorney rather than independently confirmed. Gilmer and defensive coordinator Adam Helms were placed on leave and resigned within days. No source reviewed places Helms in either video. In December 2024 the two players’ families filed a $30 million lawsuit against the school board, Superintendent Kevin Maddox, the athletic director, named board members, and the two former coaches, alleging assault and battery, emotional distress, and negligent supervision. These are allegations that have not been tested at trial. In January 2025 the board moved to dismiss on the ground that city boards of education have constitutional immunity from tort claims. No ruling, settlement, or criminal charge has been reported since.
Timeline
Drew Gilmer hired as Hoover High head football coach.
Hoover Sun (hooversun.com) ↗Gilmer and Helms placed on administrative leave after videos circulate.
Hoover Sun (hooversun.com) ↗Board accepts both resignations; offensive coordinator Chip English is named interim head coach.
Hoover Sun (hooversun.com) ↗Two families file a $30 million lawsuit over the practice videos.
ABC 33/40 (abc3340.com) ↗The board moves to dismiss, citing constitutional immunity for city boards of education.
ABC 33/40 (abc3340.com) ↗
Who's involved
Drew Gilmer
Former head football coach; resigned August 2024
Adam Helms
Former defensive coordinator; resigned August 2024
Superintendent Kevin Maddox
Named defendant
Juandalynn Givan and Reginald McDaniel
Attorneys for the plaintiff families
The other side
The board’s filed position is legal immunity rather than a denial of the underlying conduct, in every source reviewed. Board members were instructed by counsel not to comment publicly. Superintendent Maddox said at the time only that “the safety and well-being of our students and staff continue to be our top priorities.”
Open questions
- The court and case number where the suit is docketed, and the outcome of the January 2025 motion to dismiss, are not established in any source reviewed.
- Whether Hoover police closed an investigation, and with what result, is not documented. No criminal charge has been reported.
Sources (4)
- 1Families of former Hoover football players file $30M lawsuit over alleged abuse by coachesABC 33/40 · Dec 16, 2024 · abc3340.com
- 2Hoover school board seeks dismissal of lawsuit citing state immunityABC 33/40 · Jan 24, 2025 · abc3340.com
- 3Gilmer, Helms resignHoover Sun · Aug 8, 2024 · hooversun.com
- 4Families of 2 Hoover football players say coaches’ resignation isn’t enoughHoover Sun · Aug 13, 2024 · hooversun.com
Last checked July 29, 2026