20 replies to this topic

[Mo-Problems]

https://limaohio.com...oach-under-fire

A successful football coach whose methods have been frequently questioned once again has found himself in the center of controversy in St. Marys.
A group of parents in St. Marys submitted a formal complaint Dec. 22 to Superintendent Shawn Brown concerning the treatment of players by head football coach Doug Frye.
Claims of mistreatment in the complaint included that Frye and staff members “have harassed, intimidated, and hazed athletes, and disregarded the health, safety and well-being of these athletes.” The group of parents are being represented by Columbus attorney Mark Weiker.
After receiving the the complaint, Brown met with the group Dec. 22 to discuss the allegations. Brown said the school then hired an independent investigator, Ted Knapke, to investigate the claims. Knapke’s investigation, released Thursday, summarized that “the complaints included in the three letters depict a very different program and culture than the patterns that emerge from the answers and the comments given by coaches and the other eight players in response to issues centered in the allegations.”
The report went on, “The investigation clearly did not bear out the allegations. While coaches and players did not paint a picture of a perfect program or of coaches who don’t get upset at times, the consistent message was that coaches are attempting to do a very good job.”
Despite the report, the group of parents do not plan on backing down. Weiker commented on Knapke’s report.
“Apparently, the school and the investigator felt that it was not important to consider the 10-plus very similar complaints made against Doug Frye over the past 21 years,” Weiker said. “Students, parents and assistant coaches alike have made statements, each one alleging the same stuff. This coach was even disciplined by [the Ohio Department of Education] in 2013 for this behavior. These are all easily-accessible public records. It is a real stretch for the school to call this an investigation.”
Craig Gottschalk, a Lima attorney who said he represented Frye, other members of his coaching staff, and parents, had originally agreed to an interview concerning the implications in the report. However, Frye and other staff members decided not to comment after the report was issued because of its positive portrayal. Brown said the school did not have any other comment other than offering the completed third-party report by Knapke.
Weiker said the group will continue to pursue the matter.
“It is time for some leaders to step up in support of these student-athletes,” Weiker said. “We are hopeful that this will happen. If not, we’ll have to consider every available option to make sure that people are held accountable for allowing this to go on for so long.”
Weiker then presented several allegations that have came up in the past involving Frye dating back to 1995.
•1995: Bucyrus Superintendent John Roller issued a report that said “some people alleging that you had a confrontation with one of your athletes which resulted in you using unacceptable obscene language, as well as, becoming physical with the athlete.
•2001: Board notes claimed several incidents in interviews with Jim Hollman, Tom Yingling and Ed Cybak. Hollman is now athletic director at the school and Cybak left after one year and is now coaching at Green. According to the notes, Hollman said the use of profanity was pervasive. Boys with injuries were chastised and berated. Yingling said that children were coerced to play hurt and that injuries were not properly treated. Cybak also said that players were not properly treated for injuries, dragging themselves around the field not able to pick up an injured leg. Most chilling in the notes is a claim that a player suffered a deep thigh bruise. The notes say Frye felt the problem was mostly in his head and told the coaches he was going to “give him some pills he and his wife had had in college and tell Nathan that they were vitamins he needed.” According to the notes, Hollman thought the pills were anti-inflammatories. Former St. Marys school board member Rees McKee confirmed the notes were his that he had taken from interviews. A copy of the notes and a prepared summation of the interviews were provided.
•2012: An audio tape recorded following a game during Frye’s brief tenure as the Wapakoneta head coach led to a formal reprimand of the coach by the school district and several reports being filed by players or parents concerning Frye’s tactics with the Wapakoneta Police Department. The claims included a description of constant foul language and name-calling. Players said Frye constantly tore them down and one said Frye regularly only complimented four or five players on the team. The actions resulted in an investigation from the Ohio Department of Education, which resulted in Frye having to sign a consent agreement for conduct unbecoming the teaching profession, using inappropriate or degrading comments to students. A copy of the audio is available on LimaOhio.com.
•2014: A former player said he re-injured a shoulder injury during June. The player said the injury resulted from full-contact practice without pads on. The father of the player said his son had only been cleared for conditioning when the incident occurred.
•2015: In three separate reports issued by players from the team, statements included name-calling, claims of encouraging fights between players, hitting without pads on a regular basis, encouraging players to not see a doctor with injuries, and that concussions are a myth, and you get one you are weak. The reports by the three students indicated that students are encouraged to play injured. They defined name-calling and bullying as common in practice.
A letter from Dr. James Kemmler addressed to Frye, also forwarded to former athletic director Steve Moor and Dr. Bob Keighly, addressed problems with children placed on the field when not cleared medically.
Kemmler said numerous parents expressed concern and disgust with Frye’s treatment of players. Knapke’s report contradicted those claims.
Dr. Matt Reisen and Angie Brown, medical personnel who serve with the football team, said proper injury protocols were in place. Brown said she “has had more communication with these coaches in the past two years than previously. “There are never any qualms about holding a player out due to injury.”
Gottschalk would neither confirm nor deny any legal proceedings would take place in the future.

[lepiota]

Sigh, at least he didn't try to take their phones away. THAT would surely be grounds for dismissal.

[DC/MS]

Doug should get Jason on his staff to take the heat off

[Ghost of Obed]

hurt feelings.

maybe those parents need to start reserving safe spaces for their players

[Hagen]

Obviously players' names were left out, but were they prominent players or ones who rarely, if ever, saw the field? Personally, I have no clue. I'm not saying Frye is innocent by any means, but if it were all disgruntled backups, you have to take this story with a grain of salt. Frye may have a terrible past of actions, but that doesn't mean they've continued. If two medical personnel back up that proper injury protocol were followed, then why not add them into the suit & not just the coach? If Frye is "guilty" of major wrongdoing, then then the medical personnel should be relieved as well. Just sounds a bit like a witch hunt by some parents, based solely off the article.

[von]

Hagen, on 02 February 2016 - 08:53 AM, said:

Obviously players' names were left out, but were they prominent players or ones who rarely, if ever, saw the field? Personally, I have no clue. I'm not saying Frye is innocent by any means, but if it were all disgruntled backups, you have to take this story with a grain of salt. Frye may have a terrible past of actions, but that doesn't mean they've continued. If two medical personnel back up that proper injury protocol were followed, then why not add them into the suit & not just the coach? If Frye is "guilty" of major wrongdoing, then then the medical personnel should be relieved as well. Just sounds a bit like a witch hunt by some parents, based solely off the article.

If I were Coach Frye, I would just hang it up. Kids are too soft these days. When the coach yells at them or touches them they cry foul. Let the parents' run the program, so their little Johnny can be the QB. This is why many coaches are quitting, too many babies and whining parents. You do not need this, Coach Frye.

[lepiota]

Amen

[Ron Mexico]

If Coach Frye does resign, I hope the Board would consider Mike Cramer as his replacement.

[effingA]

Has anybody read the independent investigators report? It can be found on Facebook through Frye's legal representative, Craig Gottschalk. Basically, he - the investigator, concludes that this was a witch hunt in not so many words.

[Mo-Problems]

[Mo-Problems]

To be real honest, I couldn't care less for St Marys football. But as a New Bremen guy, I understand and empathize with any program that is struggling to get back on track. Regardless of your feeling towards SM football, you just have to admit that this really sucks for them, no matter if he stays or goes. It's going to be the end of any momentum they had going for them.

Also, I hate most parents of athletes.

[FlightCrew]

Guy sounds like a jerk. Hope they run him out of there.

[fortfan]

Ron Mexico, on 02 February 2016 - 09:09 PM, said:

If Coach Frye does resign, I hope the Board would consider Mike Cramer as his replacement.

Good recommendation!! Lol

[General Tso]

Sounds to me like some of the St. Mary's players are going through a rough ride. That could be the new nickname of the school. Oh wait, it already is.

Anyone else seeing conspiracy here? I think the soccer coach started this mess.

[the_beezer]

Who would have ever thought the most stable drama free program in Auglaize county would be Wapak. The only question that needs answered is if Coach can make it 3 years undefeated in the WBL.

[Maltese Falcon]

Ron Mexico, on 02 February 2016 - 09:09 PM, said:

If Coach Frye does resign, I hope the Board would consider Mike Cramer as his replacement.

yes, he could do at St. Marys what he did at Marion Local and set the foundation for a return to glory for roughrider football.

[the_beezer]

Here is the biggest issue I have with this report concerning Hollman the AD at St. Marys. He has all these incidents he saw and heard concerning treatment of players and pills given to players so he brings him back to St. Marys to coach again. He was a assistant the first time Frye was at St. Marys so this is when he would have seen this so something doesn't seem right.

[Mo-Problems]

St. Marys School Officials, Coaches Named In Federal Suit

ST. MARYS, OH



Several football coaches, the St. Marys Board of Education, the superintendent and athletic director have been named in a federal lawsuit brought by former players and their parents. Make sure to pick up a copy of Thursday's edition of The Evening Leader for a recap of the lawsuit.
- See more at: http://www.theevenin...h.EABjNJaq.dpuf

Edited by Mo-Problems, 30 June 2016 - 07:19 AM.

[moe_ szyslak]

grabbing popcorn

[Chilidog]

Wow