Lawyer for Hoover player decries 'perverted' acts by coach Drew Gilmer, announces plans to pursue all legal avenues

A lawyer representing a Hoover (Ala.) football player said they plan to pursue state and federal legal avenues after video surfaced of coach Drew Gilmer and other staff members seemingly harassing players during practice. The lawyer also decried Gilmer’s actions.

Video obtained by WKRG-TV appeared to show Gilmer and another assistant humping and pushing Buccaneers players down during practice. The two coaches have been placed on administrative leave while the school investigates.

During a press conference Wednesday, the lawyer said all legal avenues are in play. The case is also in the hands of the local SVU unit, which is investigating.

“Acts committed by Drew Gilmer (HC) are pervasive, perverted… beyond possible bounds of human decency by someone defined as as an educator in Alabama,” the lawyer said, via WKRG-TV’s Simone Eli.

In the video, Gilmer appeared to “thrust his hips” in a humping motion toward a 17-year-old player’s face. The player’s parents met with Hoover police to file charges, Eli reported, as detective from the SVU division investigate further. Lawyers also said the player in the video wanted to “hide it because he was embarrassed,” and Wednesday was his 18th birthday.

Lawyers also said they plan to meet with parents of another player from a second clip on Wednesday. Gilmer and defensive coordinator Alan Helms are both on administrative leave as a result of the situation.

After the video surfaced, the school district responded. Hoover Schools superintendent Kevin Maddox acknowledged the situation and said the district is looking into the situation.

“The safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priorities,” Maddox said in a statement. “We are taking this matter seriously and working diligently to resolve it promptly and fairly.”

Hoover quarterback Max Beason also weighed in on the situation. He took to social media to stand up for Gilmer, indicating he has the players’ full support.

“We love Coach Gilmer and Coach Helms!” Beason wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Ask any player on the roster. They’ve done a lot for us and the Hoover program. If the players want him as our coach, we should be able to keep him! He might coach a little differently, but that’s why he wins!”

Gilmer is in his first year as the school’s head coach, hired away from Clay-Chalkville, where he won two state titles. He was was 81-12 at Clay-Chalkville before taking the Hoover job, with a perfect 14-0 season in 2023.