Chicago Public Schools has settled a federal lawsuit brought by former Phillips basketball coach Paris Martin.
Martin sued CPS, Phillips Academy and several Phillips staff members, including Principal Rashad Talley and Athletic Director James Talley last July.
Martin led Phillips to the Class 2A state championship in 2024. It was the school’s first basketball title in 49 years. He claimed CPS never paid him in his two years as coach. Phillips then fired Martin two weeks after he sued.
Martin told the Sun-Times on Monday that the settlement is for an undisclosed amount.
“Pursuant to the agreement, the District compensated Mr. Martin for all of his documented out-of-pocket expenses arising from the Wendell Phillips Academy High School basketball program,” a CPS spokesperson told the Sun-Times on Monday.
Martin’s lawsuit sought ‘‘compensatory damages in the amount the court deems just and fair’’ and $1 million for ‘‘mental anguish, anxiety and depression due to the harassment and discrimination he suffered at the hand of CPS.’’
Martin, who was not an employee at the school, said he was due a stipend of nearly $7,500 for each season he coached.
‘‘It’s more than that,’’ Martin said in 2024. ‘‘I’m doing this for the kids, not for the money. But someone else is taking that money. I’m paying my own money for meals for the kids and uniforms and shoes. [Phillips] keeps telling me there isn’t anything in the budget.’’
The previous Phillips AD and principal hired Martin.
According to CPS, Martin is now eligible to be hired by the district but will have to undergo a background check the same as any new hire or volunteer.
Martin has his eye on a couple of open jobs in the suburbs, but says his heart is still in Chicago.
“I was born and raised at 43rd and State Street,” Martin said. “Ideally, I’d want to go back to CPS. I’m a big fan of Chicago. This was never CPS’s fault. It was the people in the [Phillips] administration. They didn’t care about nothing with the kids, anything.”
Talley remains the principal at Phillips, and Daniels is still the athletic director. Keyon Joiner, a former star player at Phillips and assistant coach under Martin, is now the basketball coach.
“[CPS] apologized for everything that went wrong,” Martin said. “But there were no lies told in my story. I want that out there.”
Four of Phillips’ starters could have returned to defend the state title, but after Martin was fired, they all transferred to other schools. Amari Edwards helped lead Kenwood to the city title. Lawrence Horton left for a prep school in Canada. Claude Mpouma transferred to Mount Carmel and Phoenix Childs transferred to Perspectives-Leadership.
Martin spent the winter in the stands instead of on the bench, watching his former players succeed.
“It was very challenging at the beginning,” Martin said. “But prayer and just going through and being who I am carried me over the top. It took a lot of hard work and dedication to build what we had at Phillips, and it was tough to just lose it so quickly.”
