Former swim coach accused of inappropriate touching

A teenage girl accused a former Boca Raton Community High School swim coach of inappropriately touching or grabbing her three times, and the state attorney’s office has charged the educator with simple battery.

The girl who reported Eric Hill, 42, of Boca Raton, to school and law enforcement authorities was 16 at the time and a member of one of the swim teams on Feb. 14. That’s when she sat in a wet chair and said she may have asked the coach to check that her pants would be dry in time for class, but didn’t intend for him to touch her.

Hill grabbed her bottom to see how wet her pants were, an encounter witnessed by another stuher dent, according to a Palm Beach County School District Police report.

Hill also made inappropriate comments, the girl said. Those included offering to rub lotion on her inner thighs and telling her she was sexy, according to police and school district documents obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

After attending a class on sexual harassment, the girl reported the incidents involving Hill.

Hill has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor offense that the state attorney’s office filed in August.

She accused Hill of touching her buttocks and complimenting her body as she walked out of a class. She also told police that Hill reached out his arm, rested his hand on her chest and asked to roll up his sleeve, a police report said.

After the February incident, the girl told Hill that it wasn’t right that he touched her. She told police the coach said no one would believe her. Hill later apologized to the student and said it wouldn’t happen again.

Hill could not be reached for comment Monday via phone or text.

In a June 3 email to school Principal Suzanne King, Hill wrote in part, “I understand that trouble seems to find me … even though it has always been unfounded and this one will be as well ...”

Hill was investigated for three prior incidents during his 15 years with the school district, allegations that he inappropriately touched a student; that he was too close with a student while she took selfie photos and that he once had a sexual relationship with a student.

School district police found no evidence that he committed crimes in those cases.

Hill’s lawyer, Douglas Rudman, did not return a message seeking comment.

During Hill’s career at Boca High — where he also served as aquatics director and as an assistant principal for several years — he led the Bobcats to three team state championships and four runnerup finishes.

Administrators removed him from contact with students in April and, in June, did not renew his contract.