Former Middleton High School football coach suing over resignation

Editor’s note: This story contains language and descriptions some may find offensive.

Middleton High School’s former head football coach is suing the school district alleging he was forced to resign last year amid a hazing and bullying investigation.  

Jason Pertzborn resigned from coaching and teaching in the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District in January 2023.

Pertzborn alleges the district “lied, threatened, and intimidated” him to sign the resignation agreement. 

“The district needed Mr. Pertzborn to be their ‘fall guy’ to cover up the fact that the district ignored prior concerns for the safety of students in the locker rooms expressed by staff members dating back to at least December of 2020,” according to the lawsuit filed Monday in Dane County Circuit Court.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Middleton-Cross Plains Area school officials said they were “disappointed” to read Pertzborn’s complaint and said the allegations contained numerous falsehoods and inaccurate information, including that he was forced to resign.

In February 2023, the school district sent a letter to the community saying there had been “alleged unlawful harassment” taking place in the football program and that an investigation was underway by Middleton police. 

A 22-page incident report obtained by the Wisconsin State Journal detailed football players allegedly urinating on a fellow teammate, trying to grab his genitals in the shower and urging him to “kill himself.”  

The police report said Pertzborn and assistant coach Brad Rogeberg were made aware of the initial bullying in July 2022. But it wasn’t until Jan. 11, 2023 that the high school’s school resource officer knew about the ongoing incidences, including the possible sexual assault of a player. 

Rogeberg is still on staff at Middleton High School as a physical education teacher, but no longer the assistant coach. 

No arrests followed the investigation.

The Middleton Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the District’s own Title IX investigation report cleared Pertzbom of any wrongdoing, according to his lawsuit. 

“Despite this, district officials have continued to make statements about Mr. Pertzborn that are false, defamatory and which constitute a breach of the Agreement,” the lawsuit states. 

District officials said throughout the investigation, there were underlying facts that led to Pertzborn’s resignation and the district will vigorously defend itself in the lawsuit as well as consider all legal remedies.

“The district does not intend to respond to all of the allegations set forth in the complaint or notice at this time,” school officials said in a statement. “However, the district denies that it acted improperly with respect to Mr. Pertzborn at any time before, at the time, and after he voluntarily resigned.”

Pertzborn began teaching in the district in 2001. He was asked to join the Middleton High School football program that year. 

In 2010, Pertzborn was one of five staff members who was disciplined after an investigation showed he and others viewed adult content on the district’s email system, according to the State Journal.

During the 2022-23 school year, Pertzbom taught business classes at the high school and was the head varsity football coach. 

He is seeking a jury trial.