The Maine Supreme Court returned the discrimination case of Kelly Jo Cookson to a lower court to determine if she was wrongfully fired based on her sexual orientation, reports The Advocate.

Kelly Jo Cookson, 47, was the head coach of the Brewer High School varsity softball team from 1993 to 2005, when she was fired from her job.

During the 2005 season, one student quit the team and complained to then-superintendent Betsy Webb about Cookson. The student and her mother alleged that Cookson “subjected the players to verbal abuse and hazing, including an incident where the coach allegedly took players to a farm, making them touch and walk in sheep feces,” according to The Advocate. Cookson received a letter of reprimand from Webb based on the complaint.

Months later, Daniel Lee took over the superintendent position, and the same family who complained to Webb filed a court claim at about the same time. When Cookson wouldn’t resign based on the allegations, Lee told her she was not being asked to leave her position. He did, however, fire her from her position as head coach.

According to published reports, Lee said his decision was based primarily on “the possibility that Cookson violated the school’s anti-hazing policy,” not on her sexual orientation. Soon afterwards, Cookson’s position was filled by Skip Estes, a straight man.