Hayfield Football Coach Fired

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a bullshit letter from Reid.

What letter?

November 20, 2024

Dear FCPS Community,

I am writing to address the continued — and troubling — misinformation being shared regarding this high school football season, and more specifically about the Hayfield Hawks football team. I also want to share with you our plan moving forward regarding this situation.

Let me begin by saying that all of our coaches, our school leaders, our community, and the Virginia High School League (VHSL) share a commitment to the success of our student athletes. We want our students to have passion for their sport and to play every game with integrity and sportsmanship above all else.

The VHSL is an important organization that has the tremendous responsibility of overseeing high school sports and other competitions across the Commonwealth. We appreciate the work they do, but in this situation, we share the frustration that many of our staff and families are feeling.

In August of this year, VHSL deemed eligible every player who has played this season on the Hayfield Hawks football team. Two months later, the VHSL declared the entire team ineligible for postseason play without any specific evidence of recruiting or other violations. Coaches, athletes, parents, and fans are frustrated by the circumstances that their teams are in now, because of the ambiguities within the VHSL’s rules and policies.

Last week, these inconsistencies were confirmed by the Fairfax County Circuit Court judge who, after a nearly two-hour hearing, ruled that Hayfield football could play in the postseason and that VHSL had violated its own rules by imposing a two-year ban. FCPS and Hayfield Secondary School are not parties to this litigation, but we will comply with the court ruling and allow Hayfield football to play in the postseason.

Last night, at their request, I met with coaches and principals whose school communities have been most directly impacted by this situation. During this productive meeting, we focused on our common goal to keep our student athletes at the center of any next steps. I have been clear that we will not find ourselves in this situation again.

To that end, and to minimize the potential of future questions or concerns, and to restore public trust, I have outlined the next steps we will be taking as a Division to ensure that our standards for student-athlete eligibility are clear and aligned moving forward. These steps include:

A comprehensive and independent external investigation and review of all student athlete transfers and eligibility practices across all sports and in all of our high schools.

A review and revision, where necessary, to FCPS athletic protocols and procedures. Led by the Office of Student Activities and Athletics programs, and in partnership with coaches and administrators, this will include a divisionwide review of current practices in evaluating student athlete transfers both inside and outside of the Division.

Alongside our Executive Director of Student Activities and Athletics, I will be hosting two Community Conversations, one for our schools in Class 6 Region C and one for our schools in Class 6 Region D, regarding our athletic regulations and practices. We’ll be sharing more information about those meetings soon and hope you will attend.

We also stand ready to work with the VHSL to improve their policies and processes on student-athlete eligibility. It is vital that we collaborate with everyone involved to ensure we are preparing for the evolution of the student-athlete experience that we are seeing in our country. As we navigate uncharted waters ahead in youth athletics, we must anchor our practices in clear rules and accountability systems that apply to all regardless of circumstances. Access to excellence and opportunity — that is the American dream.

Warmest Regards,



Dr. Michelle C. Reid
Superintendent

She’s right. They banned Hayfield without any specific proof of violation. It was "I’m white and I say Hayfield can’t play”. They probably didn’t expect Hayfield’s parents to have the resources to hire an attorney and fight.

Show the bill where Kaboli paid this guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a bullshit letter from Reid.

What letter?

November 20, 2024

Dear FCPS Community,

I am writing to address the continued — and troubling — misinformation being shared regarding this high school football season, and more specifically about the Hayfield Hawks football team. I also want to share with you our plan moving forward regarding this situation.

Let me begin by saying that all of our coaches, our school leaders, our community, and the Virginia High School League (VHSL) share a commitment to the success of our student athletes. We want our students to have passion for their sport and to play every game with integrity and sportsmanship above all else.

The VHSL is an important organization that has the tremendous responsibility of overseeing high school sports and other competitions across the Commonwealth. We appreciate the work they do, but in this situation, we share the frustration that many of our staff and families are feeling.

In August of this year, VHSL deemed eligible every player who has played this season on the Hayfield Hawks football team. Two months later, the VHSL declared the entire team ineligible for postseason play without any specific evidence of recruiting or other violations. Coaches, athletes, parents, and fans are frustrated by the circumstances that their teams are in now, because of the ambiguities within the VHSL’s rules and policies.

Last week, these inconsistencies were confirmed by the Fairfax County Circuit Court judge who, after a nearly two-hour hearing, ruled that Hayfield football could play in the postseason and that VHSL had violated its own rules by imposing a two-year ban. FCPS and Hayfield Secondary School are not parties to this litigation, but we will comply with the court ruling and allow Hayfield football to play in the postseason.

Last night, at their request, I met with coaches and principals whose school communities have been most directly impacted by this situation. During this productive meeting, we focused on our common goal to keep our student athletes at the center of any next steps. I have been clear that we will not find ourselves in this situation again.

To that end, and to minimize the potential of future questions or concerns, and to restore public trust, I have outlined the next steps we will be taking as a Division to ensure that our standards for student-athlete eligibility are clear and aligned moving forward. These steps include:

A comprehensive and independent external investigation and review of all student athlete transfers and eligibility practices across all sports and in all of our high schools.

A review and revision, where necessary, to FCPS athletic protocols and procedures. Led by the Office of Student Activities and Athletics programs, and in partnership with coaches and administrators, this will include a divisionwide review of current practices in evaluating student athlete transfers both inside and outside of the Division.

Alongside our Executive Director of Student Activities and Athletics, I will be hosting two Community Conversations, one for our schools in Class 6 Region C and one for our schools in Class 6 Region D, regarding our athletic regulations and practices. We’ll be sharing more information about those meetings soon and hope you will attend.

We also stand ready to work with the VHSL to improve their policies and processes on student-athlete eligibility. It is vital that we collaborate with everyone involved to ensure we are preparing for the evolution of the student-athlete experience that we are seeing in our country. As we navigate uncharted waters ahead in youth athletics, we must anchor our practices in clear rules and accountability systems that apply to all regardless of circumstances. Access to excellence and opportunity — that is the American dream.

Warmest Regards,



Dr. Michelle C. Reid
Superintendent

She’s right. They banned Hayfield without any specific proof of violation. It was "I’m white and I say Hayfield can’t play”. They probably didn’t expect Hayfield’s parents to have the resources to hire an attorney and fight.

Show the bill where Kaboli paid this guy.

Who?

[Anonymous]

I think she is parent who filed the injunction

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reid is so full of it.

She is calling for an independent investigation. That already happened---done by VHSL--and she refused to accept their findings and decision.

The class-6 final is 12/14. So, the real plan is to bide time until then w/this investigation talk, which if it happens, the public will never see the results. By Christmas, they expect all to be forgotten.

But, you may get survey afterwards, to gauge your feelings about school transfers, just to make you feel included in the process. You will never see those results either.

And then the ultimate twist, she’ll announce from investigation and survey that FCPS is shutting down ALL transfers as release the boundary changes. No academic OR athletic, because will say to allow 1 and not other is racist.

[Anonymous]

A vague future investigation into "everyone" gives the Hayfield cheaters a free pass.

[Anonymous]

I'm so tired of cheaters always getting away with it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They won’t do anything! A coach can’t make a parent move or force them to. The judge will not go for that at all or believe it. 🤣 VHSL failed and made an emotional decision! Unfortunately guys all them parents had the money to move in the area. If it’s a 100 kids, sorry guy! I have to say this guy Coach Overturn has to be something special for parents too relocate. Seriously

I’ve been all in on a lot of posts, but they are NOT complaining about that part of the rule, they are trying to say the moves were about playing the sports not just moving for better opportunities or eduction, it’s a lot but if I take ANY class that I couldn’t take elsewhere then doesn’t matter.

[Anonymous]

The way I read this is coach Overton is the HS Deion Sanders and he left Freedom for Hayfield, and ppl are mad that he “allegedly” brought his Louie Luggage with him, LOL.

I hear what ALOT of ppl are saying about these alleged to be good men great coaches in other areas, let’s be real and it’s also been stated payers play for the coach they like, parents will take there kids to the program that best fits their kids athletic situation, Seems like Overton had ALOT of kids wish to follow him along to include 5 pre 9th graders. “Dressing” VARSITY is a heck of a lot different than stepping on the field, I’ll say that but if that’s true then tip your hat to that man because he’s def doing things right in the community, to have people think the way they are.

Good morning all be blessed

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand the accusations of racism against parents. I don’t know anything about other teams but at my kid’s high school (not Hayfield but same region) the head coach, most of the coaching staff, and the star players are Black.

I just have a problem with illegal transfers and recruiting in high school. And so should Reid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honest question: Why would Reid cover the truth up if there was evidence that Hayfield cheated? How does she and FCPS benefit? They investigated and found no evidence. Did they not look hard enough? Or is she right that this is all just about malicious rumors?

She keeps conflating the two issues at play here. FCPS investigated "eligibility" (e.g. were kids living where they said they were etc.). They cleared entire program stating that all 15-30 (or however many) transfers met FCPS eligibility guidelines. Unclear how exhaustive that investigation was and many people have pointed out its flaws but let's stipulate.

VHSL's ban was for an ENTIRELY different reason - recruiting (or "proselytizing" as it's unhelpfully called in their rules) - i.e., that Hayfield coaches/administrations inappropriately approached players about transferring to Hayfield district. It was this blatant breaking of VHSL rules that resulted in post-season ban. VHSL just tripped up on its own process (it was supposed to enact original punishment by committee vote versus individual decision) - which is typical jurisprudence nonsense these days resulted in injunction until Dec 4th.

Why Reid cannot just say this is beyond me. i.e., we looked into one thing, cleared them and VHSL not disputing. VHSL looked into something else and found violations. She seems to be saying we looked into our thing and so everything else should be disregarded and tripling down on bad behavior and injustice for 180,000 - 2000 students.

Now in reading that rule they allegedly broke, is there tangible proof that any coach or administrator said hey come here, this is where I’m going. If they can’t prove that then it’s for nothing. I’m sure as any coach does he holds a mtg to announce his intent to leave the program. I read about it in the newspaper and saw it on tv (5). So it’s not like he really had to say anything, it was ALL said for him via the press.

Now my next qus this, what is the so called “spirit of the game” rule. It screams participation trophies for everyone. Spirit of the game means no need to keep score track wins and losses hire and fire coaches. In life there are winners and losers, just how it is. Without all the sarcastic responses could someone from either side of the argument give me insight, or basically their opinion how they see it.

[Anonymous]

What is status on other teams forfeiting? I hope they do!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honest question: Why would Reid cover the truth up if there was evidence that Hayfield cheated? How does she and FCPS benefit? They investigated and found no evidence. Did they not look hard enough? Or is she right that this is all just about malicious rumors?

Honest answer - because the cheating coach and the players and their families are from a certain community that is "disadvantaged" and therefore consider themselves above the rules, and Superintendent Reid is a die-hard progressive.

Lolololol I’m not sure Reid had ever met a black person prior to this job, certainly not in her previous district.

“Everything I don’t like is DEI” is a sad way to go through life. I hope you get the help you need.

[Anonymous]

The VHSL through discovery most likely obtained written text showing that players were being recruited for non athletic reasons by Hayfield staff.

She didn’t address any of the recruiting claim violations! Because she knows it’s truthful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop making this political. This is about fair play and expecting the superintendent to care about all FCPS kids, not just Hayfield’s.

You are right that the problem is not political, but the solution necessarily involves politics. B/c the SB has to change to get some accountability from Gatehouse. The current lot backs Reid 100%, which is why she felt comfortable sending that ridiculous letter. If this thread doesn’t realize this, then you are all just spitting into the wind.

BTW, this is a great thread w/a lot passion, but relatively small potatoes compared to the real damage coming out of Gatehouse. Go visit some of threads on skills based grading (SBG), those will make your head spin.

Completely agree. I want Reid fired for all the other damage and hope this fiasco leads to her firing. But you're saying nothing will change until the next election and even then nothing will change because people blindly vote Democrat in Fairfax County.

I really think people will vote out a lot of Democrats as long as the republican candidates aren’t book burner/religious nutters. That crap got us where we are today.

Seeing as there’s no such thing as the latter, good luck with that. The thing is, you don’t really want the latter, you’re fine with all the craziness that comes with the modern GOP and are afraid to admit it.

[Anonymous]

FrankWinston wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop making this political. This is about fair play and expecting the superintendent to care about all FCPS kids, not just Hayfield’s.

You are right that the problem is not political, but the solution necessarily involves politics. B/c the SB has to change to get some accountability from Gatehouse. The current lot backs Reid 100%, which is why she felt comfortable sending that ridiculous letter. If this thread doesn’t realize this, then you are all just spitting into the wind.

BTW, this is a great thread w/a lot passion, but relatively small potatoes compared to the real damage coming out of Gatehouse. Go visit some of threads on skills based grading (SBG), those will make your head spin.
Stephen Warren is that you? SMH.

Completely agree. I want Reid fired for all the other damage and hope this fiasco leads to her firing. But you're saying nothing will change until the next election and even then nothing will change because people blindly vote Democrat in Fairfax County.

The ignorance of the MAGA lot (which overlaps considerably with the Overton lot if you get to know them) is startling...