OPRF Wrestling Coach Mike Powell Returns to Post After Temporary Suspension

Oak Park and River Forest High School assistant wrestling coach Mike Powell is back on the mats after the investigation of an out-of-school incident forced him into a temporary suspension in November.

OPRF spokesperson Karin Sullivan confirmed Powell’s return, the Chicago Tribune reported, but didn’t specify when he had come back.

When the Tribune reached out for comment via email, Powell just wrote back, “I am grateful to be back at it.”

Oak Park police and school district officials have been investigating an incident in which an off-campus party was thrown at Powell’s house while he was out of town for a period in August. He had reportedly given one of the members of the wrestling team keys to his home to look after his dogs.

It also came to light in November that a sexual assault had allegedly taken place at the party, which is when the school district became involved in its own investigation of the case.

Powell, who had been relatively quiet about the whole situation until the end of November, eventually sent out a statement saying that he was cooperating in all investigations and assuring the OPRF community that he wasn’t the target of any of those investigations.

“For nearly two decades, I’ve been lucky enough to share my life with the men, women and children in the Oak Park/River Forest family,” he wrote. “As a teacher and coach, I’ve made respect, understanding and self-discipline core values for my students and athletes.”

He also made a point to emphasize the gravity of the investigation's sexual misconduct claims.

“Any difficulty inaccurate reports and misperceptions have caused me, my family and my team pales in comparison to the pain of sexual assault,” he wrote. “I await the results of these investigations with hope that the truth will be brought to light and justice will prevail. Any victims, our school district, and the community I am proud to call my home deserve nothing less.”

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