Reading between the lines on coaches resigning

Isn’t it mildly strange how you see the same story line play out in the public eye numerous
times, yet the more times you see it, the more cynical you become?

For me, that moment happens whenever I see a high school coach resign either a) For
personal reasons or b) To spend more time with family. Before you get anything twisted, I
completely understand the sacrifice that high school coaches make, not because I have
ever done it but I dealt with them for 18 years as a sports reporter.

Whether they are teachers doubling as a coach or simply an on-campus coach working
outside of education, they are not coaching for the money. In California, high school
coaches get a stipend of about $3,000 per year, give or take. That sounds like good enough
money for a year’s supply of eggs and linguica at first glance to do something you love,
except when you factor in the hours taken off work, spent at games and practices, the
tradeoff is not a fair one.

Anymore, coaches responsibilities extend far beyond coaching, which includes but is not
limited to being up to speed on CPR or other First Aid matters. Oh, and I haven’t even
begun to address the heavy scrutiny from helicopter parents and the time coaches spend
away from their families as a result of coaching.

However, when I read a report of a high school coach resigning to spend time with their
families, I don’t get cynical because I’m not aware of the sacrifice. My reasons for the
cynicism is usually because the public reason is often a cover against a feud with either the
administration and/or parents. Sometimes, you don’t find out until after the fact. The
disconnect is often easy to understand why it happens because by nature most people are
self-absorbed in that they think of the world in how it pertains to them. Parents are going to
focus on their child. The coaches have multiple kids and parents to keep appeased along
with the administrators, who have all the above plus their own bosses to keep happy.

Anyone that has watched college or professional sports can attest that there are numerous
feuds that went public. I could give numerous examples but here are just a few: Billy Martin
vs. George Steinbrenner, Marcus Allen vs. Al Davis, Terrell Owens vs. Steve Mariucci/Andy
Reid, Terry Bradshaw vs. Chuck Noll. Those are the type of feuds that make you say, “Just
imagine if this happen in the social media era?”

The same feuds that make for good clickbait journalism or hot topics with obnoxious talking
heads like Screamin A Smith, I mean Stephen A Smith, or Skip Bayless, do not make the
best content at the youth level. After all, since you are dealing with kids, sensitivity must be
taken into consideration.

When I was covering high school sports in my previous career, I covered a story of a varsity
football coach at a then Div. IV school resigning to take a Div. I job as a defensive
coordinator. Throughout the community, I got two different responses that ranged from: a)
It’s a step up because he’s going from a Div. IV high school to a Div. I school, b) It’s a step
down because he’s going from head coach to assistant coach.

I later discussed the resignation with another fellow, who also was an assistant baseball
coach at the same school. This guy was passionately saying how the administration “ran the
football coach out of the school. I don’t know why the paper doesn’t print that” His reasoning
was that even though it was a resignation on paper, irreconcilble differences made the coach
leave.

While I can appreciate the desire to have the real reasons go public, it is simply not always
practical. If you “want the truth,” you can ask both sides for their thoughts but even if both
sides speak, you are only going to get the portion of the story that makes them look good.
They call that, “controlling the narrative.” However, are you really getting the truth?

Here in the Napa Valley, six high school football coaches left their positions within a matter
of two years. American Canyon High’s Larry Singer, Napa’s Troy Mott, Vintage’s Kyle
Hofmann and Calistoga’s Mike Ervin resigned. Justin-Siena’s Rich Cotruvo and the school
“parted ways,” which might as well be a euphemism for being fired. I call it getting Jim
Harbaugh-ed. Napa’s Jesus Martinez was dismissed after one season. Mott, Hofmann and
Ervin each left a cloud of smoke for different reasons. However, Mott and Cotruvo’s reason
each went public in terms of obvious differences with the administration.

With Singer, there were no public traces of strife in the media with the administration.
However, given the timing of his resignation in May, that has not kept some from speculating
but I make no assumptions. Martinez was dismissed and the Napa administration wanted
him say he was resigning because of family reasons. Martinez, however, played hardball
and refused, thus forcing the administration’s hand. Napa principal Annie Petrie was asked
for comment but declined.

I do not bring up these coaching carousel moves as a matter of rehashing, I simply address
it because there are times you have to read between the lines and understand what makes
for explosive hot takes on ESPN, does not necessarily play well at the youth level.