Monday, October 17, 2011

What an Ordeal

I have so much to blog about with regards to the family and things that have happened in the last several months. So I find it weird that my last post was about being a volleyball coach and instead of posting about my family, I am updating on being a coach!

Over the last couple months so much has happened. Our head coach (Whitney), one of my best friends, resigned three weeks into the season. The circumstances surrounding her departure left me furious, angry and a little confused! I supported Whitneys decision 100% and still do and I want to write everything that went down...but I would need MUCH more time! In a nutshell, I feel our Principal, who also serves as Athletic Director, failed to do his job correctly. I find him to be arrogant and egotistical. He claims to be very professional but I haven't seen that side of him yet. He left Whitney with two choices...admit to claims that are without merit, untrue and inaccurate and apologize for them, or tender her letter of resignation...and decide by 5pm that evening. So she resigned. I was also victim to his unprofessionalism and have written a letter to the Superintendent...breach of confidentiality, conflict of interest, breaking of board policies...all things commited by this so called professional.
All of this said, I am not willing to put myself in a situation for my name to be dragged through the mud and slandered as Whitney's has. She is battling now to have her name cleared. Parents and student athletes (I should say that some of them) have come to expect a sense of entitlement. If things aren't going their way, all they have to do is make a complaint and things miraculously start turning in their favor. It blows me away. I just don't remember it being that way when I was in school. The coach did their job of making us better athletes and responsible young adults and parents had a job to be spectators and supporters. There is no clear boundaries anymore and its concerning.
I have decided that this is going to be my last season coaching at Philomath High School. Because they have to hire a new head coach, I am not guranteed the assistant coach position...but do not want to be considered. I also will not apply to be the Head Coach. This season was so emotionally draining that I spent a lot of time writing letters and taking time away from my family to deal with the situation. I have missed out on a lot of Nathan's swimming lessons, football camps and other fun things.

Don't get me wrong...I LOVE to coach and I LOVE volleyball. I just can't and won't continue at PHS under the current AD. In a few years I might consider coaching elsewhere but for now I am going to focus on my family!