CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Former Campbellsville University wrestling coach Franky James was quietly terminated in August. He says he was wrongfully fired after supporting his team when one of his student-athletes died in February.
One of James' athletes, 18-year-old Josiah Kilman, was killed by another teammate Charles Escalera.
Escalera is facing charges in Kilman's death. Investigators said he admitted to harming his teammate multiple times, but he's pleaded not guilty and is currently being held on a million-dollar bond.
"I can't really talk about those things but there's a lot of information I think will come out," James said. "In the month that [Escalera] was here we recognized he was having some mental health issues. We worked hard to make sure those university resources were available to him. He used those university resources and those university resources failed him."
Campbellsville University gave James a termination letter before the start of the fall semester. The letter states James was discharged from his position because of his interactions with the team after the tragedy.
At this point James said he'd already recruited a whole new group of student-athletes who committed to the wrestling team. He founded the program in 2004 and is calling the termination unfair.
"I was just so hurt and upset," James said. "How do you treat someone like this? We’re a private Christian school. You’re not doing what’s best for your students or long time employees right now. What is going on? It just feels like a betrayal and they kind of need someone to put this on. They’re making me the scapegoat is what it seems like."
James said after tragedy he helped his team heal from the loss.
"Our team healed and we tried to…we were moving on and ready to go and start a new season, start a new year," James said. "A week before...to make this decision. It happened in February, how do you wait six months to make this decision when everyone is healed up?"
WHAS11 reached out to Campbellsville University for more details on James' termination, and asked if the administration received letters and emails form alumni looking for clarity. The university said they do not comment on personnel matters.
"I think that’s been their goal is to be quiet and sweep it under the rug," James said. "I think they are going to be quiet."
James called 18-year-old Montana native Kilman a kind person and said the loss continues to eat at him.
"It’s a terrible thing," James said. "I brought him here so I feel awful and terrible about that. There’s a lot of trust in that, in the family and the individual. So they’re trusting my reputation and they’re coming out to wrestle with our program and it’s just a tragedy. People are invested in the wrestling program here and my 20 years here. They want to know what’s going on. How could a private Christian university treat people this way."
A new semester on campus with many questions left unanswered.
The termination letter also stated the former coach can no longer speak with current students or be on campus without permission.
James said he still has personal items on campus he’s trying to retrieve, but the university won’t answer him or his lawyer.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.