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Discussion Topic: Arcadia fires wrestling coaches
Dan Cosimi added to this discussion on February 2, 2008
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I'm not posting this to point out that the Arcadia coaches got fired. I'm posting this as a reminder to all fellow coaches that stuff like this can end your career. Also, there has been interesting debates on whether or not the Arcadia Board of Education made the right decision.
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Arcadia fires wrestling coaches
Jamie Baker - The Courier
January 31, 2008
ARCADIA — Despite the pleas of wrestling parents, boosters and other community members, Arcadia Board of Education voted 5-0 Wednesday to accept the forced resignations of all four high school wrestling coaches after an alcohol-related incident at a Sandusky tournament last weekend.
During a special meeting, the board dismissed head coach Dane Kirian and assistants Adam Kirian, Heath Hill and Michael Miller.
The board also voted 5-0 to hire Dane's brother, Dean Kirian, as the school's head wrestling coach for the remainder of the season. Kyle Dickerson and Steve True were hired as assistant coaches.
The Redskins have just one regular season meet left, the Ohio Wrestling League tournament on Feb. 9, before the state tournaments begin the following week.
The Arcadia wrestling community showed up in force Wednesday to try to convince the school board not to fire the high school coaching staff. Nearly 100 people from Arcadia and the surrounding area, as well as a large group of media, crowded into the school cafeteria for the contentious and emotional board meeting.
The firings stem from an incident at the Comfort Inn motel in Sandusky where the team stayed while competing in the Division III Duals at St. Mary's High School on Friday and Saturday.
According to a report from the Perkins Township Police Department, an officer saw Miller and Hill outside the motel early Saturday with open beer cans, and they were cited for open container violations.
Dane Kirian, the head coach for the past eight years, was then located by police inside a motel room and, according to the police report, appeared very intoxicated, had vomit on his arm and was unable to stand up.
Kirian's son, Adam Kirian, an assistant coach, was arrested for underage consumption and taken to the Erie County Jail. He was later released after posting a $265 bond.
Dane Kirian, who had not seen a copy of the police report before Wednesday's board meeting, denied being intoxicated.
"I had a couple of beers, but I was not intoxicated," Kirian stated emphatically. "I was tired and I haven't been really healthy lately.
"People can say what they want to about me, but I know what the truth is."
School administrators determined the coaches violated Arcadia's athletic code of conduct and the school's guidelines for a drug- and alcohol-free workplace. A school board policy forbids the use of alcohol during any school-sponsored event or district activity, including field trips and athletic events.
The coaches originally complied when asked to submit letters of resignation on Monday. However, they decided to rescind the resignations Tuesday after meeting with the parents of their wrestlers, who urged Dane Kirian and his assistant coaches to fight for their jobs.
But school officials would not allow them to rescind the resignation letters, according to the coaching staff.
"This is the first time we've had this type of situation with coaches, that I am aware of," Arcadia Superintendent Laurie Walles said Wednesday. "It's our board policy, and in our athletic code of conduct, there's a page in there stating coaches are to have exemplary behavior."
The school board allowed everyone who wanted to speak Wednesday to have their say before making the final decision.
The vast majority of those in attendance spoke out in support of the coaching staff and urged the board members to allow them to keep their jobs through the remainder of the season.
Some, like wrestling parent Lisa Elchert, sought out alternatives to firing the staff.
"They are good role models that have made a mistake. I don't think they should be fired, but look at other options available to you like drug or alcohol counseling or a suspension like you would give to the students," Elchert said.
"I know you feel you need to discipline them so I think another option is viable to discipline them."
Wrestling parent Lonny Moses, who attended the tournament in Sandusky, was among several parents who disputed the accuracy of the police report.
"I know Dane was sick, but he was not sick from alcohol. The guy worked third shift and went up to the wrestling tournament. This man was up 36 to 40 hours so he went to sleep," Moses said.
"The report said he was intoxicated and couldn't stand up. I'm sorry, if he was that drunk, they should have called EMS and taken care of it. But he wasn't, he was tired."
But the arguments weren't enough to sway the board, which broke for about 20 minutes to discuss the matter in executive session before rendering its decision.
In the end, it was tough for Kirian to come to the realization that he won't be in the corner coaching the wrestlers he watched grow up in the Arcadia program.
"This isn't the way I wanted to end my last year here," Kirian said in a soft voice after the meeting.
"I've been around these seniors since they were in elementary school. I'm still going to be there and watch them, encourage them on and support them. I just won't be in the coaching chair.""
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Discussion Topic: Arcadia fires wrestling coaches
Doug Noel added to this discussion on February 2, 2008
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This is a real beehive topic in this area, just a lose-lose situation.
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Discussion Topic: Arcadia fires wrestling coaches
Mark Niemann added to this discussion on February 2, 2008
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Fired, huh...who'da thunk it. (Astonished, and sarcasm, font on!)
Great lesson for all to learn from.
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Discussion Topic: Arcadia fires wrestling coaches
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on February 3, 2008
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1) The coach needed to take immediate "ownership" of this mistake.
2) He needed to make a sincere and public apology for failing to behave in a manner consistent with someone that has been entrusted with a group of the community's children.
3) He needed to offer his resignation without hesitation.
The idea that a coach would admit to having a few beers but claim he was tired and not feeling well is denial. If you're ill, why are you drinking? When I coached, kids made every excuse imaginable to explain missing practice. I know bullsh-t when I hear it. Coach Kirian made a mistake. He needed to make no excuses and own up to it. He didn't. He got the boot. End of story.
By the way--If I were the parent of one of this wrestlers, I'd be furious. You send your kids out of town under adult supervision and these guys are getting drunk? Coaches shouldn't be drinking and certainly one beer is the limit.
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Discussion Topic: Arcadia fires wrestling coaches
Ken Ramsey Sr. added to this discussion on February 3, 2008
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Quote from Hank Kornblut's post:
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"Coaches shouldn't be drinking and certainly one beer is the limit."
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Hank:
When you are coaching a team out of town and responsible for the athletes at a hotel "No beers is the limit." There should be no exceptions to that rule.
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Discussion Topic: Arcadia fires wrestling coaches
Gary Sommers added to this discussion on February 4, 2008
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Quote from Hank Kornblut's post:
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"1) The coach needed to take immediate "ownership" of this mistake.
2) He needed to make a sincere and public apology for failing to behave in a manner consistent with someone that has been entrusted with a group of the community's children.
3) He needed to offer his resignation without hesitation.
The idea that a coach would admit to having a few beers but claim he was tired and not feeling well is denial. If you're ill, why are you drinking? When I coached, kids made every excuse imaginable to explain missing practice. I know bullsh-t when I hear it. Coach Kirian made a mistake. He needed to make no excuses and own up to it. He didn't. He got the boot. End of story.
By the way--If I were the parent of one of this wrestlers, I'd be furious. You send your kids out of town under adult supervision and these guys are getting drunk? Coaches shouldn't be drinking and certainly one beer is the limit."
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Hank, while very unfortunate this happens perhaps more often than people realize. Does Bud Longo ring a bell?
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Discussion Topic: Arcadia fires wrestling coaches
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on February 4, 2008
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Gary: I retired from coaching in 2000 so I'm not sure what happened with Bud Longo. But it wouldn't surprise me.
I'm not naive enough to think that coaches don't have the occasional adult beverage while in a hotel during a tourney weekend. I think, however, that if you're busted doing it, own up to the mistake. And don't get trashed.
Ultimately, I agree with Ken Ramsey Sr.'s response. That's how it's supposed to be.
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Discussion Topic: Arcadia fires wrestling coaches
Ken Ramsey Sr. added to this discussion on February 4, 2008
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Hank:
From my own experiences I can see how coaches are tempted when tournament traveling with their team. Most teams have a good following of team parents, boosters, and ex-wrestlers who travel with the team. When the wrestling is done, usually a parent organizes a social in someone's room or rents a room for a social gathering. Almost always beer, liquor or both is on hand with food (sandwiches, fruit, chips, etc.)
If the coaches stop by (as they almost always do), someone will always offer the coaches a drink and food. The host should remember the consequences the coach faces if something happens, but in our world everyone thinks it will never happen to them. All sides should remember there is a "#1 responsibility" (the wrestlers).
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Discussion Topic: Arcadia fires wrestling coaches
Gary Sommers added to this discussion on February 5, 2008
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Quote from Hank Kornblut's post:
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"Gary: I retired from coaching in 2000 so I'm not sure what happened with Bud Longo."
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It was a shame what he was allowed to get away with, but he is gone from coaching and the kids are better off for it.
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