Ervin Mears Jr. says in the suit filed this month that son Mawusimensah was kicked off the Sterling High School team and subjected to bullying and harassment.
The suit seeks $40 million - as well as varsity letters and championship jackets from 2012 and 2013.
The elder Mears tells The Philadelphia Inquirer his son was a championship runner as an eighth grader but had disagreements with his coach when he arrived at the Camden County school over what events he would run. He disputes the school's contention that unexcused absences led to the boy's dismissal.
Sterling's interim superintendent declined to comment to the newspaper, citing student privacy.
