Kominiko ‘Niko’ Sila, a high school football coach and administrator at Green Bay East, is currently placed on administrative leave. It is unclear as to why.
Students at the school are not happy with the decision and the lack of explanation.
Sila was suddenly pulled from his role prior to the Red Devils’ high school football game last weekend. A timeline for his return has not yet been announced amid this ongoing investigation.
Green Bay East suspended its high school football coach.
Sila was hired as a student learning advocate at Green Bay East High School in Wisconsin in 2018. He took on the football coaching role in 2023 and currently serves as the manager of student engagement, attendance and advocacy.
The school placed him on administrative leave just a few hours before kickoff on Oct. 17.
Both Green Bay East and the Green Bay Area Public School District declined to confirm Silva’s leave or answer any questions from the Green Bay Press Gazette about why he was put on leave or if the leave is paid. It remains a mystery.
Some students suggested Sila’s sudden disappearance might stem from his care for the well-being of the student body. He allegedly gave students ride home from school and helped them to buy food.
That could be a violation of school policy. It might also be a violation of Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association rules. We don’t know. This is just one hypothesis.
Green Bay East sophomore Avonell Lindner told the Press Gazette that Sila helped her get back into school. She says life on campus has been hectic without him because the students he encouraged to attend class are not listening to other administrators. She and senior Veronica Alequin said he is more like a parent than a teacher. Junior Rita Montez, who has known Sila since she was six through his work at the Boys and Girls Club, says it is “devastating” to see him gone.
Needless to say, the students are not happy.
A student-planned protest was met with threats.
Approximately 30 students walked out of school in protest of Niko Sila’s administrative leave on Monday. They carried signs that said ‘Free Niko’ and ‘Bring Back Niko’ and chanted “We want reasons!”
The protest likely would’ve been bigger in size but the morning announcements threatened protesters with disciplinary action. Especially athletes.
Students were told they could face punishment if they protested. Students on sports teams were told they could lose their spot on the team. Other students claimed that their teachers prevented additional students from joining the protest. Otherwise, according to Montez, “the whole school (would protest.)”
Demarion Brown and Phixe Change did not fear the potential consequences of the protest. They both walked out of class in support of their football coach because they feel “betrayed.”
A petition against Sila’s administrative leave has more than 1,600 signatures.