Minnesota HS hockey coach quits midseason over parent pressure

A Minnesota high school girls hockey coach stepped down last week, saying the pressure from some parents was too much to manage.

John Marshall High School has seven games remaining on its regular season schedule, but head coach Josh Chapman said it was best to step down right away. He told the Post-Bulletin in Rochester that parents were not happy with his coaching style.

“They wouldn’t stop,” he told the newspaper. “They were trying to do everything they could, dig up anything they could about me.”

Chapman said the school’s athletic director and district superintendent offered their support and would have continued to do so if he wanted to stay. However, he determined it was best to step down immediately.

The John Marshall Rockets are having a rough season, carrying a 5-14-0 overall record. Since the announcement, Chapman said current and former players and parents have reached out to offer their support. Assistant coach Mia Bruesewitz is taking over as head coach until the season is completed.

Combative parents regularly ranks among the most concerning issues for coaches and administrators in Coach & Athletic Director’s annual surveys. It’s not uncommon for the pressure to become so unbearable that coaches quit the position.

Last year, a Texas high school volleyball coach quit after receiving constant pressure over playing time. In December, an Iowa high school volleyball coach resigned over similar issues.

Read more from the Post-Bulletin.