Complaint Over Intense Practices Gets Coach Sidelined

http://palltimes.com/articles/2012/02/08/news/doc4f2f18fd57500302486657.txt

Oswego City School District Board of Education President John Dunsmoor said a parent alerted him about a note that coach Phil Reed is alleged to have handed the varsity girls basketball players before Friday’s practice.

An anonymous email was also sent Friday to administrators and news media, including The Palladium-Times, that quoted the note. According to the note, Reed was disappointed in what he considered a lack of senior leadership. “Is the season over? Are the seniors just going to give up on the rest of the season and not be leaders for the younger members of the team?” the note said. “Do the younger kids not want to use every opportunity they have to prepare for their future? Do we not understand that preparation for the future is happening or at least can and should be happening every day? I’ll be honest with you, this type of season is so foreign to me that I don’t really know how to deal with it — it makes me sick my last couple of years have been so difficult — I guess allowing teenagers to make good decisions for themselves is a big mistake! I should have been the rotten bastard that I needed to be to get you players to practice the right way!”

The email’s anonymous author further accused the seasoned coach of pushing players to excess. “Reed required the girls do extensive drills, including 10 suicides, during these drills he provided a garbage can and told the team if they had to throw up they could use the garbage can … Many players had a difficult time doing this practice and were out of breath and tired. Many left the practice crying and are afraid to return.”

During a phone interview on Sunday, Dunsmoor said that while he was aware of the note, he was not aware of the allegations in the email regarding the practice. “I don’t know how intense the practice was, Dunsmoor said. Sports practices can get intense.”

Athletic Director Scott Sugar said he and Superintendent Bill Crist contacted board members on Friday evening where it was determined that Reed would be placed on administrative leave from coaching until an investigation can occur. “His administrative leave is from coaching only, Sugar reiterated.

As a board, we (supported) what our administrators brought to us, Dunsmoor said of Friday’s impromptu meeting. I’m sure the administration will do the right thing and look out for everybody.”

Crist issued the following brief statement, Oswego City School District officials are investigating a parent complaint against the girls varsity basketball coach who has been put on a leave from coaching pending the outcome of the investigation.
Although the anonymous email also encourages those who read it to contact team members and parents to “vouch for what I am saying in this letter, Lisa Giglio, whose daughter Taylor is a senior on the team, said the girls are all OK, but declined further comment on the matter. Another player’s mother also declined comment.

Dunsmoor and Sugar each said they had been contacted by parents, but not by any of the team members.

(Reed) has had a very successful career, Sugar said, He’s taken three varsity girls basketball teams to three consecutive sectional finals. … When we receive these reports, we have to investigate them.”

Dunsmoor added that situations like this are unfortunate but need to be thoroughly examined. He suggested that Sugar first talk with players while Crist arranges to talk with the parents. “Then we’ll also sit down and talk with Phil Reed and make a decision that’s in the best interest of everybody, the board president said. If there’s something there, it will be detected and corrected. We’re always striving to be better. If there are situations we have to deal with, then we’ll deal with them to be a better district.”

The varsity team stands at 3 wins and 11 losses so far this season. It is expected that the junior varsity coach will step in for Reed as the girls face Corcoran on Tuesday.

Parent Complaint Gets Coach Sidelined

The Palladium Times, Janet Rebeor-Dexter

http://palltimes.com/articles/2012/02/08/news/doc4f2f18fd57500302486657.txt

OSWEGO, N.Y.—An Oswego High School teacher and coach was placed on administrative leave from coaching duties on Friday after at least one parent complained that he pushed the team to tears and exhaustion during a basketball practice. Oswego City School District Board of Education President John Dunsmoor said a parent alerted him about a note that coach Phil Reed is alleged to have handed the varsity girls basketball players before Friday’s practice. An anonymous email was also sent Friday to administrators and news media, including The Palladium-Times, that quoted the note. According to the note, Reed was disappointed in what he considered a lack of senior leadership. “Is the season over? Are the seniors just going to give up on the rest of the season and not be leaders for the younger members of the team?” the note said. “Do the younger kids not want to use every opportunity they have to prepare for their future? Do we not understand that preparation for the future is happening or at least can and should be happening every day? I’ll be honest with you, this type of season is so foreign to me that I don’t really know how to deal with it — it makes me sick my last couple of years have been so difficult — I guess allowing teenagers to make good decisions for themselves is a big mistake! I should have been the rotten bastard that I needed to be to get you players to practice the right way!”

The email’s anonymous author further accused the seasoned coach of pushing players to excess. “Reed required the girls do extensive drills, including 10 suicides, during these drills he provided a garbage can and told the team if they had to throw up they could use the garbage can … Many players had a difficult time doing this practice and were out of breath and tired. Many left the practice crying and are afraid to return.” During a phone interview on Sunday, Dunsmoor said that while he was aware of the note, he was not aware of the allegations in the email regarding the practice. “I don’t know how intense the practice was, Dunsmoor said. Sports practices can get intense.” Athletic Director Scott Sugar said he and Superintendent Bill Crist contacted board members on Friday evening where it was determined that Reed would be placed on administrative leave from coaching until an investigation can occur. “His administrative leave is from coaching only, Sugar reiterated. As a board, we (supported) what our administrators brought to us, Dunsmoor said of Friday’s impromptu meeting. I’m sure the administration will do the right thing and look out for everybody.” Crist issued the following brief statement, Oswego City School District officials are investigating a parent complaint against the girls varsity basketball coach who has been put on a leave from coaching pending the outcome of the investigation. Although the anonymous email also encourages those who read it to contact team members and parents to “vouch for what I am saying in this letter, Lisa Giglio, whose daughter Taylor is a senior on the team, said the girls are all OK, but declined further comment on the matter. Another player’s mother also declined comment. Dunsmoor and Sugar each said they had been contacted by parents, but not by any of the team members. (Reed) has had a very successful career, Sugar said, He’s taken three varsity girls basketball teams to three consecutive sectional finals. … When we receive these reports, we have to investigate them.” Dunsmoor added that situations like this are unfortunate but need to be thoroughly examined. He suggested that Sugar first talk with players while Crist arranges to talk with the parents. “Then we’ll also sit down and talk with Phil Reed and make a decision that’s in the best interest of everybody, the board president said. If there’s something there, it will be detected and corrected. We’re always striving to be better. If there are situations we have to deal with, then we’ll deal with them to be a better district.” The varsity team stands at 3 wins and 11 losses so far this season. It is expected that the junior varsity coach will step in for Reed as the girls face Corcoran on Tuesday.

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