Update, Feb. 8: The Feb. 8 hearing was canceled, agreed upon by both parties according to court documents. The next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 22 at 9 a.m.
Desiree Dellinger, an assistant principal for San Luis Obispo High School, has obtained a temporary restraining order against Cal Poly Vice President of Student Affairs Keith Humphrey following allegations of harassment.
The dispute centers on claims made by Humphrey regarding his son facing discrimination on a club soccer team, reportedly because his parents are a same-sex couple. Dellinger, who coached the team for six years, found herself receiving multiple threats shortly after Humphrey’s son left the team.
“Disrespectful to not include the full team,” Humphrey wrote on the club’s Facebook post. “But we are used to being marginalized as a family. So this is consistent.”
The restraining order, issued on Nov. 16, requires Humphrey to stay 100 yards away from Dellinger and her family. Both parties declined to comment on the matter.
Evidence submitted as part of the legal proceedings includes text messages from Humphrey, an email contacting SLO High School about Dellinger’s employment and Facebook comments showing Humphrey’s frustrations with the soccer team.
According to Dellinger, Humphrey’s alleged threats extended to Dellinger’s husband, team manager and other parents on the soccer team. In her request for the restraining order, Dellinger described the “severe toll” the alleged harassment had taken on her mental health, including panic attacks and the need for therapy for the first time in her life.
The conflict escalated on Nov. 5, the day after the soccer team won the Coast Soccer League Premier championship. Following this game, Dellinger said there was a mutual agreement that Humphrey’s son was no longer part of the team. Humphrey countered and said his son was wrongfully excluded due to his parents’ sexual orientation.
Dellinger wrote that she received a call from Humphrey that night, but didn’t answer because she felt uncomfortable to do so, considering “allegations and [Humphrey’s] past volatile behavior.”
“He has made nearly one unsupported threat each day since November 5, 2023, all of them increasing in scope and charge,” Dellinger wrote.
Text exchanges show Humphrey’s intention to proceed with legal action the following week, including involving a photographer and sending complaints to revoke Dellinger’s coaching license.
“Just an FYI — our attorney is sending a photographer by your house today in preparation for the civil penalty phase of the claim I am filing,” Humphrey texted to Dellinger’s husband, Charles.
Another text showed Humphrey inquiring for the team attorney’s name, suggesting an upcoming legal action.
“… can’t tell if the team’s insurance covers 14th amendment claims,” Humphrey concluded his text. “It will be fun to find out!”
Dellinger cited additional “past behavior” found in a Facebook post by Humphrey asking how to “express concerns about school leadership,” a post she inferred was directed at her as a school leader.
“Somebody done pissed off Dr. Humphrey and I do not envy them,” one comment responding read, posted on Nov. 7.
Subsequently, on Nov. 15, Humphrey reached out to the high school, requesting to exclude Dellinger from any involvement in his children’s education path.
“We have asked Principal Dickinson to ensure that our children and their educational experience has not involvement by Assistant Principal Desiree Dellinger, and it is important to their safety and well-being administrator be brought to someone other than Desiree Dellinger,” Humphrey wrote to multiple teachers and administrators.
Humphrey texted Dellinger prior via text.
“Des— Please know that Brett and I have made a formal request to the school district for you to have no interaction or educational involvement with either of our children effective immediately in your capacity at SLOHS,” the text read.
Despite the restraining order, an exception allows Humphrey to contact the high school when attending school events or picking up his children.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday at the SLO Superior Court, according to the case summary.