When a high school cheerleading coach was fired for what she says was her part-time job at Hooters, some member of the cheerleading squad quit in solidarity for their coach. INSIDE EDITION has the story.
Nicole Zivich a popular varsity coach of a high school girls cheerleading squad. But Zivich found herself abruptly fired, and now she's at the center of a media frenzy.
"It's is devastating," said Zivich.
Her cheerleaders are broken-hearted.
"I think its totally unfair," said one cheerleader.
So why did the coach get the boot?
Zivich said, "I think that they didn't like that I worked at Hooters."
That's right. Zivich works part-time wating tables at Hooters. The 24-year-old married mom with two young daughters defended putting on orange shorts and a tank top, saying it was a way to make ends meet.
Zivich says when the principal hired her as the girls varisty cheerleading coach at a Naples, Florida, high school, he knew she worked part time as a Hooters waitress.
"I don't see how anyone can think that what I am doing is wrong, is immoral, is weird," said Zivich.
But Zivich says Susan Jacobse did. Zivich says Jacobse, whose daughter is on the JV squad, bombarded the school board with over 100 emails complaining about her Hooters job and accusing her of authorizing dangerous stunts—a charge Zivich denies.
Zivich was fired but the school says it had nothing to do with her being a Hooter's waitress.
Zivich believes that one parent's 100 email blitz got her fired. The mom behind the emails is now defending herself.
"I'm being made the heavy here. I don't care about me. I'm a big lady. I can take care of myself," said Jacobse.
"I'm here to fight back," said Zivich.
Earlier this week, Zivich attended a local school board meeting. Her cheerleading squad came out in force.
"We want her back," said one cheerleader.
One after the other they spoke out in support of their coach.
"I don't think its fair," said another cheerleader.
But the board upheld the school's decision to fire Zivich. And you wont believe what happened next. Eighteen cheerleaders of the twenty-two member squad quit in protest.
The girls had one more cheer for their departing coach outside school board meeting.
"They did quit and they are standing up for what they beleive in makes me feel I already made an impact on their lives," said Zivich.
