No ruling 
in Sandholm lawsuit

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No ruling was made Wednesday in former Dixon High School basketball coach Steve Sandholm’s request that he be reinstated as the district’s athletic director.

Instead, U.S. District Judge Philip G. Reinhard gave attorneys more time to gather information.

During the hearing, Sandholm withdrew an earlier request that the position be left vacant. Former Dixon High School Assistant Principal Kye Gaffey replaced him as athletic director as scheduled.

Sandholm was ousted as coach last spring, and on Wednesday was transferred from the athletic director position to an administrative job in the district office. He has asked that he be reinstated as athletic director through spring 2011, when he is scheduled to retire.

His suit against the district, filed in federal court in May, alleges age discrimination, illegal school board activity and a violation of his civil rights.

Sandholm also has sued basketball players’ parents, the school district and four school board members for defamation. All but one of the defendants in that case have been dropped.