Ashkinazy fired
The hammer fell on Grimsley's baseball coach Tuesday in a move most people, Ashkinazy included, probably saw coming. I haven't heard from anyone with the school yet but did meet with Ashkinazy this afternoon at the Greensboro Batting Center. He's clearly frustrated by some of the things that have been said about him - and being a relative newcomer myself, it's hard to gauge how much of the griping is justified - but he's also clearly not grieving for himself. "They couldn't screw me because it's not my livelihood," he said.
What do you think? Did Ashkinazy get a bum rap?
Comments (3)
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Yes, a bum rap it was. Alan is a great coach. He's tough at times, but he helps dedicated kids become better players and he teaches life lessons about hard work, perseverance, toughness, and winning and losing as a team. I am very close to the baseball program at GHS and have spoken with Alan, Mr. Newman, and a number of parents over the past several months. I have several conclusion statements I will stand behind 100%. They are: Alan was fired because Coach Newman tired of listening to a small group of vocal, and apparently influential, parents. These parents were upset that their sons were not playing as much as the parents thought they should. The kids were not playing because they were not better than the kids ahead of them. Alan plays to win and puts the best 9 on the field. I'll stop there for now. I ask those who might choose to respond to use their real name so that I'll know with whom I'm communicating. Thank you, Alan, for all you do and have done for the local baseball community.
Posted on September 10, 2008 10:08 PM
If a high school coach was fired for playing who he considers to be the best players, then the athletic director is not doing his job by standing up to the parents.
If the coach had a winning season....he did his job...this ain't LIttle League any more!
It sounds to me the wrong person was replaced.
The parents should have 0 say in who plays and the Athletic Director at our school makes this very clear. Zero tolerance is allowed for this kind of complaint at our school.
Posted on September 11, 2008 11:19 AM
After reading the comments about this situation this happens all too often and the kids are the ones who lose. It sounds as if the former coach for Grimsley was teaching life lessons and parents ran him off. This is ridiculous and has to stop. Parents need to be parents and let coaches coach.
I was in a similar situation and the AD decided to let me go when a parent griped and complained about their child not playing when I was putting the best 9 on the field. I coached for 8 years, 2 as an assistant and never had a losing season and won the first conference title at the school.
When will this stop and when will parents realize that this is not about them and when will AD's realize the kids are the most important aspect.
Posted on November 29, 2008 10:52 PM