Court reinstates Gene Allen as ACHS basketball coach

A judge has reinstated Atlantic City High School's ousted basketball coach. The order signed by Superior Court Judge Michael Blee on Wednesday reinstates Gene Allen "until further notice." READ JUDGE'S ORDER A court date has been set for Dec. 10, when the Atlantic City Board of Education must produce cause for the failure to renew the coach's contract. Allen was not at the meeting where board member John Devlin cast the sole vote on his behalf. He has filed suit against the board to keep his job. His attorney argues the action was a violation of the Open Public Meetings Act. "We will be serving our complaint and other legal papers on counsel for the Atlantic City Board of Education," Allen's attorney, William Donio, said. "We also anticipate conferencing with the judge in this matter." The board had scheduled a special emergency meeting for Friday to discuss the vacancy that was left by the board's decision. But hours after the judge issued his decision, it was canceled. Elijah Langford, Allen's assistant coach, was made interim coach, but has been adamant that he does not want the position and believed the the coaching staff's time together was not over. Wednesday's decision proved him right — at least for now. "We have heard that the board will attempt to meet on November 30, 2018," Donio said. "Hopefully, for the student athletes of Atlantic City High School, the board will do the right thing and take action consistent with the court’s reinstatement of Coach Allen."