Ervin should be remembered as a difference maker

Sometimes you see a scenario that has played out thousands of times. While you
understand the spirit of the rule, you cannot wrap your head around the politics of
the matter.

You also take a step back and say, you hope for the best as the powers that be seek a
replacement but you see the reality. Perhaps, I can sell you beachfront property in
Wyoming or Montana.

The Napa Valley Register, which is the parent publication of the Weekly Calistogan,
reported that Mike Ervin is not returning as Calistoga High’s football head coach. Whether
that decision is his or the powers that be is up for discussion. All we can go by is what was
said publically.

Call me old-school. Call me “get off my lawn” but I view high school sports as a perfect
sanctuary for dirty laundry not being aired. Except the dirty laundry reared its head. I
want to make a couple of things very clear. For openers, I spent a lot of time covering
Ervin’s Wildcats. I consider him a friend. We have stayed in contact over the years, even
after I changed careers in Dec. 2014. We still talk via phone, text and email. I have never
met Calistoga High principal Craig Wycoff or athletic director Karen Yoder. Therefore I
have no opinions about them as people.

The 74-year old Ervin resigned based on what he considered a declining relationship with
the Calistoga High administration. The Register reported that the partnership began to shift
off course during an exit interview with Wycoff after the 2017 season. Such conversations
are commonplace. The season ends. The parties involved discuss the season. What went
well? What can be better, etc.”

Since he is an off-campus coach, Ervin is required via the California Teachers Association
to reapply for his job every season. If an on-campus employee applies for the job, said
candidate becomes top consideration. Whether said candidate gets the job is another matter.
Every district operates differently but that is another story for another day. In California,
coaches do not perform that duty based on money. They get about a $3,000 stipend per year.
That gets you about a year supplies of eggs and Linguica. Point being, they coach because
it is a labor of love.

The long and short what was reported about Ervin’s squabble with the administration is that
in past years, no one wanted to come near the job so Ervin had a clear path. Wycoff and
Yoder wanted to see if they could get a teacher/coach. Well, Yoder once coached and taught
at Napa High. Might she reach out to Troy Mott? That would be a best case scenario but
that is one big fish to land for a little pond. Mott resigned amid an alleged hazing scandal
and over a power struggle to retain his coaching staff in March 2017. Getting Mott might be
a tall order because keep in mind, he has two daughters playing softball for Napa and
commuting to Calistoga from Napa takes about 35 minutes, I doubt it. OK, I’ll stop the
hypothetical game.

Both Wycoff and Yoder told the Register they would welcome Ervin to apply for the job.
They simply stated their desire to find an on-campus coach. To that end, my argument has
been very steadfast. I don’t fault administrators for wanting an on-campus coach. It's the
reality of how they think. The person is there if a problem arises but in the age of endless
ways to communicate, that issue is not so prevalent today. With cell phones, text messaging,
skyping, etc., hell, e-mail is so 2005, communication options are endless.

The Calistoga administration's desire to find an on-campus coach is well-intentioned on the
surface but they need to understand reality. Calistoga is a landlocked area. Teachers are not
bringing in a bankroll. Plus, the cost of living is very high in the Napa Valley. They could
lure a teacher/coach but the chances of that happening are slim and none and slim left the
building.

Ervin’s legacy, however, does not change even with this tete-a-tete that went public.

Ervin has nearly 50 years’ experience coaching football at the high school, junior college,
four-year college, and semi-pro level. Either as head coach or an assistant, he has coached
at Anderson Valley High, Ukiah High, Reed High in Sparks, Nevada, Santa Rosa JC,
Sonoma State, Analy High, Cardinal Newman High and the North Bay Rattlers.

At Calistoga, he sparked two rebuild jobs. Calistoga went 1-7 but only played four games
on the field in 2005. Believe me, that situation was a hot mess. The Wildcats went 7-5 in
2006. Ervin resigned after the 2010 campaign. The Paul Harrell era lasted from 2011-2014.
The middle was very good, going 14-7. The beginning and end were ugly, going 2-18.
Ervin came back for 2015 as Calistoga committed to 2015. I remember telling him, “Coach,
I love you but what the hell are you thinking?” Well, the Wildcats were 17-7 from 2015-2017.

Ervin’s impact, however, goes beyond the win-loss record. For many of these kids, Ervin
was a father-figure they lacked. The biggest impact he made was having after school study
hall programs that helped kids stay academically eligible. I get that competing in athletics
is a privilege, not a right, but without athletics, there are youngsters that fall by the wayside.

As someone that covered Calistoga while on the Upvalley beat from 2004-2014, I hope they
get their desired candidate that teaches and coaches but Frank Stagnaro is not walking
through that door. Neither is Jim Hunt. Neither is Dan Connor. Neither is Marty Sherrin.

Then again, at 74, maybe Ervin doesn’t need this headache. Coach, your legacy is more
than secure.