A basketball coach recently hired to improve the program at the private Kiski School claimed in a federal lawsuit yesterday that he was forced to quit because the administration did not want him to recruit black players.

But Kiski's headmaster claims that problems with coach Anthony Cheatham had nothing to do with race, and instead had to do with him not following WPIAL rules in how he recruited players.

Cheatham, who was working as a consultant before taking the job as varsity coach for the Saltsburg school for next season, claims he left the position because of the discrimination.

"He had no choice," said his attorney, Samuel Cordes. "He was never going to be able to do his job."

Headmaster Christopher Brueningsen denied the claims.

"There is absolutely no truth to any allegations of discrimination at the school," Brueningsen said. "Like most independent schools, we're always looking for ways to increase diversity."

The school has 205 students enrolled in grades 9 through 12, along with a handful in a post-graduate program. The students come from 15 countries, and approximately one-third of the school's population are boys of color.

But Cheatham alleges in his lawsuit that when he started recruiting for the school in April, he was told that African-American players were not "mission appropriate."

"[As] information about Kiski's recruiting effort, and the races of many of those recruits became public, Kiski's administration became uneasy," the lawsuit said. "During a number of conversations, Cheatham was told by Kiski administrators that the school could not tolerate a basketball team with five African-American starters."

The lawsuit alleges that white recruits who had lower grades and fewer financial resources were accepted over a black prospect with more money and better academic ratings.

Though Kiski is not a WPIAL member, Brueningsen said that approximately 90 percent of its athletic opponents are.

That's why when WPIAL officials complained about the type of recruiting being done by Cheatham -- including sending widespread e-mail blasts to WPIAL students -- the school asked Cheatham to follow the rules.

Brueningsen said he thought the situation had been resolved, but then on May 26, Cheatham packed up his office and left.

Whether a student is "mission appropriate," he continued, has to do with being able to meet the school's rigorous academic standards and has nothing to do with race or ethnicity.

"I'm puzzled by his motives," Brueningsen said.