Last Monday I attended the special meeting held by the WCS Board of Trustees. Since this meeting, I have had numerous conversations with friends and family regarding this situation, and have come to a number of observations and opinions with respect to it. They are:
1. It was sad that we spent four hours discussing a personnel issue that was obviously mishandled over a number of years by school administrators, parents, WCS officials and trustees. I do not envy the responsibilities that these folks have, and I am very sympathetic to the challenges that they face. Nonetheless, all of these folks bear responsibility for the mess that we currently have. It should have been resolved some time ago.
2. It was very clear to me that Coach Ogle has far more supporters than dissenters. The trustees should take note of this.
3. Of the dissenters, only one of these (Mary Ann Irwin) presented a case that contained any substance. Even this substance has been called into question, and I can't help but think that there are things that we are not being told. I learned long ago that there are two sides to every story. Other dissenters had every opportunity to make their grievances known at this meeting. These alleged other dissenters chose to "phone it in." Their credibility should be judged accordingly.
4. So far, all I have heard is a bunch of he said, she said allegations, along with an alleged number of people who seem to disagree with the way Coach Ogle coaches. People have every right to disagree with the way a coach manages his team. One family did just that, and then decided that they would be better served elsewhere and left. I support both parties in this instance. The team is better off without unhappy players regardless of their talent, and the family seems happy with their decision. This is a no harm, no foul non-starter issue with regards to Coach Ogle's employment if wins and losses are truly not important, as one trustee suggested.
5. Unless Coach Ogle has been convicted of a crime, has publically embarrassed the WCS system, or used unethical methods and set a bad example for his players, I have heard absolutely no evidence that would justify firing him.
Given the weak evidence presented, Doug Ogle should remain as our head basketball coach. Furthermore, I would suggest that the WCS superintendent, WCHS principal, new athletic director and Coach Ogle sit down and develop some objectives that are specific, measurable, actionable, recorded and set with a time limit. He should then be evaluated at the conclusion of the established time period, and a recommendation made as to Coach Ogle's employment as coach.
I hope that our school board of trustees will act in a manner that reflects the will of the people that elected them, and retain Doug Ogle as basketball coach.
