Despite frustration expressed by some parents and players affiliated with the Ethel High School Tigers football team, EHS Principal Culley Newman said he will not revisit his decision to dismiss Head Coach Dave McCrory.
McCrory, a second-year head coach for the team, was let go the Friday before Thanksgiving, causing some parents and players to openly question the decision.
Last week’s county school board meeting drew about half a dozen parents and grandparents, as well as a group of players. They stood in the doorway of the board meeting room and filled an adjacent office area to lodge their protest. Those attending said they wanted to make their feelings known to the board, but in the end only two adults were permitted to speak.
Danny Steen, grandfather of player Landon Barnhill, was clearly upset by the board’s desire to stem the number of people speaking and the time spent on the discussion.
“We’re the public and the taxpayers and we just need to be heard,” he said.
Because no one had officially signed up to speak at the meeting, Chairman Christy Moody said the board was already creating more opportunity than normal for comment.
“Technically, we could say, ‘I’m sorry, but you can’t,’” she told the group before agreeing to let one representative speak for everyone. That person was Debbie Zalace, mother of player Landon Zalace.
“We, as parents, feel that what has been started is on the right path to success. Fifteen of the football players have asked me to help keep their coach,” she told the board. “Please leave our current program to grow under the current coaching staff. Students are doing well in their studies, and it should be about what is best for the students. Change now would be taking a step backwards.”
Moody then thanked people for coming to the meeting to express their opinions, but said the board would not be discussing the matter further.
“We do appreciate y’all for coming in, but we can’t discuss any personnel issues,” she said.
Unsatisfied, Steen then spoke again.
“Something needs to be corrected here. Most coaches get three to five years, and he only got two. He has developed and been growing these kids, and this is going to hurt the kids,” he said.
Zalace made one more comment before the group departed the meeting.
“You have a whole room of parents and players out here that feel the same way,” she said pointing to the adjacent room. “Give him a chance, please. He deserves it.”
Following the meeting, several of the players spoke to The Star-Herald about their desire to have McCrory continue in the head coach position for at least one more year.
Players noted that the team is very young, is still learning the game, and should not be expected to be winning all the time this early in their careers.
McCrory reportedly created a climate of accountability, expecting players to work out in the weight room off-season and attend numerous football camps and competitions in addition to their regular practice and play schedules.
Scott Walters II, a junior who plays in several positions including occasionally quarter-backing the team, said McCrory deserved more time to continue developing the players.
“I feel like things had been going good, but they didn’t give him enough time, so I don’t like how this was handled,” he said. “He always wanted us to do well in the classroom, too. I think they should at least give him one more year.”
Freshman Landon Barnhill, who plays on the offensive line, agreed with Walters.
“I felt it was wrong that they didn’t give him enough time. I felt like the program was doing well toward the end of the season,” he said.
Sophomore Noah McCrory, a right tackle and offensive line player, said the situation has been difficult for both the team and his family. Noah is the coach’s son.
“I didn’t know how to react. My dad has worked so hard on the program and getting it to this point,” he said. “It has affected my family with a whole lot of stress. I’ve made a lot of friends here, and I don’t want to leave. The program has been growing, and right when it was getting where it needed to be, they knocked it down.”
Noah’s mother penned a Letter to the Editor, which appears on page A6 of this week’s paper, about her family’s life in the coaching world and their experience in Ethel.
For his part, when contacted for this story, Dave McCrory said he cares deeply about the players and the program, despite feeling he was unfairly dismissed.
“I do appreciate all the parent and player support. It has been a tough and challenging time, but I’ve always told my kids to fight and stand up for what they believe in,” he said of the players’ fight to keep him at the helm of their team.
“I do think the two football teams at Ethel that I was happy to lead... there was no doubt in my mind that they were headed in the right direction.” he said.
“I hope that the community of Ethel knows that from day one, I had the best of intentions and that Ethel has been a special place. Not many people are willing to come in and fight for these kids, to give them the football program they deserve,” McCrory said. “Me and my coaches knew it would be a long fight and would have loved the opportunity to continue to fight to make this program what I see it can be.”
Asked if the decision might be reconsidered, Superintendent Bryan Weaver said only that the district handled the matter appropriately.
“We have a policy in place to address the assignment of coaches and the administration at Ethel has followed this policy,” he said.
Newman said that while he appreciates the input of parents and players, McCrory will not be rehired.
“I appreciate the concern and support of Coach McCrory and all that he had done, but we’re going to move in a different direction,” he told The Star-Herald Tuesday. “Currently, we are in job-search mode.”
Newman said the job is posted on the MHSAA website and about 15 candidates have submitted resumes so far. He expects he, the athletic director and another administrator will interview all viable candidates before two finalists are selected. Those two will be interviewed by Newman and incoming Superintendent Kyle Hammond before a selection is made.
