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Two coaches were punished too severely

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  • Sonny Long •
  • Originally published February 1, 2009 at 4:18 p.m., updated February 1, 2009 at 4:18 p.m.

Editor, The Advocate:

After reading Jerry Wheeler's article about Tidehaven on coaches punishment, I feel he is correct - the punishment does not fit the "crime."

However, to be fair to the UIL, it is important to know that they were deliberately mislead by Tidehaven Superintendent Wesson and the school board.

When in Austin before UIL, all other schools supported their teachers and coaches, but Tidehaven Independent School District did everything it could to have these coaches punished harshly.

It feels that it is better to allow two coaches to take blame than have the district programs adversely affected by UIL, as far as forfeiting games or suspensions.

The school district had already punished the coaches - 40 hours of community service or four days loss of pay. One of these coaches is a young assistant who had never coached basketball nor played basketball when he was in school.

So, Mr. Wheeler, you are correct - someone should be ashamed for having severely disrupted these two coaches lives and families, as well as causing them loss of income for 18 months to two years.

A school board member told me that they (superintendent and board) felt that if they were harsh on the coaches, maybe the UIL would be light on the school's athletic program.

The UIL did send a strong message that rules are to be followed.

The Tidehaven administration and school board also sent a strong message to future coaches and teachers: This is not a good place to be employed if you want positive support.

Thank you Mr. Wheeler for stepping up when you see an injustice being done.

However, if you violate a rule, you must be punished. Probably the members of the UIL and district board, the Tidehaven Independent School District Administration and school board are not worried about making their mortgage payment or car payment.

I wonder about these two coaches who have lost their ability to coach.

Jim Davant DVM

Blessing


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Comments

  • avgJOE avgJOE Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    This conversation has gone personal and off topic. The last few comments have nothing to to with the suspension of coaches.

    I would like to return to the matter at hand. I believe that the persons responsible for the practices be punished. Did the AD schedule and run those practices? I don't think so. That leaves the 2 coaches that were suspended. If they are to blame then they should be punished not the school didtrict or the players.

    Some people have said the AD & Supt. should have stood up for those coaches. Why? What they did was a clear violation of UIL rules. Would you rather the entire school district be punished or just the ones that broke the rules. They were clearly in the wrong and supporting them would not be the right thing to do.

    February 12, 2009 at 1:24 p.m.
  • cfboyett cfboyett Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    Let me start by saying, this whole situation is not being helped any by people getting on here and bad mouthing others. That being said.Now to Mr. Joe Brown123, if you would like to discuss with me face to face your reason for bring me up, and explain to me what the hell I have to do with any of this I would be glad to speak with you, here is my email cfboyett@gmail.com I truly hope that your man enough to contact me, but for some odd reason iam almost 100% sure that you will not.
    Thanks for your time,
    Chris Boyett

    February 3, 2009 at 11:45 p.m.
  • joebrown123 joebrown123 Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    Tidehaven ISD is corrupt and needs to be cleaned out starting at the TOP! What about the Principal’s son (a so called coach) getting fired? Too many unknown things go on at the school. They like to keep things “under the rug”.

    February 3, 2009 at 7:43 p.m.
  • sickANDtired50543 sickANDtired50543 Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    No, I’m not on the school board, all I am trying to say is, if there were not lies told when the UIL asked questions about knowledge of the situation the outcome most likely would not have been as severe as it turned out to be, sometimes people need to quit relying on their family name and take responsibility for what they did wrong and move on.

    February 2, 2009 at 11:25 p.m.
  • rqvwm7899 rqvwm7899 Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    I guess you are probably on the school board. Maybe you should put yourself in those coaches shoes. How would you like it if you were told that you were going to have to coach a sport that you had never played nor got any help or support from your superintendent or AD. I believe that the school board, AD and Superintendent were just covering their own butt. WOW! What a winning combination to recruit coaches to your school. If I every hear that someone wants to go to Tidehaven I would do my best to talk them out of it. Coaches need the support of their AD if nobody else supports them. Won't be happening there!!!!!!

    February 2, 2009 at 11:01 p.m.
  • sickANDtired50543 sickANDtired50543 Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    It’s always been my understanding that when you lie the punishment is more severe than if you told the truth from the beginning of the investigation. Also, if you didn’t want the result that came from the decision, maybe it would have been intelligent not to have started the issue to begin with.

    February 2, 2009 at 7:40 p.m.