Divisive and incompetent HS coach

[Anonymous]

What can you do when your child has a coach that trash talks about their players to other players, doesn't show up to practices, pits players against each other by stirring up unnecessary drama and doesn't actually know how to coach? Sounds ridiculous right? But that's where we are. For context, I have no issue with my kid's playing time or anything like that. This coach has just turned what should have been a fun year into a drama filled nightmare. And we are only two games into the season! Just venting. Not sure anything can actually be done since "management" knows. This coach has been a nightmare for three seasons and nothing has been done. This year has just been really extra. Sad for my kid.

[Anonymous]

Quit.

[Anonymous]

So curious which coach this is. There is a coach that our team plays against that is such a jerk -- my little one once asked me "who is that man and why is he acting that way?"

[Anonymous]

OP here. The coach is not a jerk to other teams, just to their own players off the field. And as to the suggestion to just quit, that is the last option. My kid has been playing this sport for years with county recognition, and to leave it because of this idiot coach would be heartbreaking.

[Anonymous]

Is the coach an MCPS employee or someone who does not work for MCPS outside of the coaching role? I ask this because many coaches are not MCPS employees because the pay is so low that it is not worth the time and effort for such a small stipend. As a result there are individuals hired as emergency coaches who are not always the best.

Regardless i would bring your concerns to the school's athletic director and principal. Even if they are not a full time MCPS employee they are held to the same expectations regarding conduct. Keep the concerns away from playing time since that can be defended by saying it is the at the coach's discretion. A coach that does not show up for practices is something that is easy to raise concern about since there would be a group of kids without supervision.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the coach an MCPS employee or someone who does not work for MCPS outside of the coaching role? I ask this because many coaches are not MCPS employees because the pay is so low that it is not worth the time and effort for such a small stipend. As a result there are individuals hired as emergency coaches who are not always the best.

Regardless i would bring your concerns to the school's athletic director and principal. Even if they are not a full time MCPS employee they are held to the same expectations regarding conduct. Keep the concerns away from playing time since that can be defended by saying it is the at the coach's discretion. A coach that does not show up for practices is something that is easy to raise concern about since there would be a group of kids without supervision.

Good luck

Thank you for your response. This coach is also a teacher at the school. My kid has begged me not to reach out to the AD for fear of retribution.

[Anonymous]

What exactly have they done?

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t show up for practice, for one thing.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Forgot to mention, the coach isn’t going to go to the away games because they are too far from their house. So the assistant coach is basically the coach. Yes, the assistant needs to speak up too.

[Anonymous]

It doesn’t sound like the coach likes the athletes. Anybody who’s been on a team would know that is not how a head coach should behave. Is it possible to see if they can make the assistant coach the head coach, and find a new assistant?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the coach an MCPS employee or someone who does not work for MCPS outside of the coaching role? I ask this because many coaches are not MCPS employees because the pay is so low that it is not worth the time and effort for such a small stipend. As a result there are individuals hired as emergency coaches who are not always the best.

Regardless i would bring your concerns to the school's athletic director and principal. Even if they are not a full time MCPS employee they are held to the same expectations regarding conduct. Keep the concerns away from playing time since that can be defended by saying it is the at the coach's discretion. A coach that does not show up for practices is something that is easy to raise concern about since there would be a group of kids without supervision.

Good luck

Thank you for your response. This coach is also a teacher at the school. My kid has begged me not to reach out to the AD for fear of retribution.

What do the other parents think of the coach? Have you discussed it with any of them?

[Anonymous]

Sounds normal for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds normal for us.

Yeah. My kid's coach is an English teacher who wanted to make a few bucks so she volunteered to coach a team in a sport she doesn't even play. And she is awful.

[Anonymous]

My kid had same experience with a coach and had to quit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Forgot to mention, the coach isn’t going to go to the away games because they are too far from their house. So the assistant coach is basically the coach. Yes, the assistant needs to speak up too.

Video of the coach speaking of I'll of players on social media will get them out post haste. At least send an anonymous letter to the ad ans principal with a log of the games they have missed--although the principal and AD should be aware of the coach not showing up. If they aren't aware they suck too