Massachusetts Football Coach Resigns After ‘Constant Harassment’ From Parents

A Massachusetts high school football coach has resigned after less than two years on the job following constant harassment from parents and spectators.

Kahn Chace was the head football coach for Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton, and he stepped down after events from last week’s game that had him “on the verge of tears.”

Chace spoke with WCVB-5 about his decision and what led up to it. Below is an excerpt from the WCVB-5 article.

“The game ended and as I was talking, addressing our team, you know, 20, 30 yards away behind a fence is a group of parents yelling at us and trying to embarrass us,” Chace said.

He said the harassment began shortly after he started the job last year and had only grown worse as he tried to improve the team’s record.

“I’ve heard vulgar language,” Chace said. “It’s just like personal attacks, like threatening postures. They just think that you’re a figure that they can yell at instead of a human being.”

Many other coaches say they’ve faced similar hostility on the sidelines.

“Everyone wants to post something really cool about their child,” Jack Ingram, a flag football coach, said. “If their child’s not on the field, they don’t have that opportunity.”

“If the parents are being nice to each other and respectful, that sets a huge tone for the rest of the school,” one mother of a player said.

Some parents say it’s critical to set a positive example in youth sports.

“It’s disheartening because you love their boys,” Chace said. “Maybe if it gets a little publicized, people will refrain from doing that next time to coaches.”

Chace says that he is looking forward to spending more time with his family, but he does plan to look for another coaching job.

To read the full story from WCVB-5, click here.