Post by Rustymopar on Mar 23, 2016 13:50:40 GMT -4
Well hello everyone. My name is Rusty Smith former KIHS Wrestling Coach and Founder of Chesapeake Bay Wrestling and MSWA "Bouts on the Bay" Wrestling Tournament. Here we are 1 year later and I just today found my self as the subject of your discussions. I will give you the facts and not assumptions and try to clarify things for those who read or commented here.
- I was not fired. My contract was not re-newed because (Tomatoe/Tomotoe) "they wanted to go into a different direction and have more HS teachers as coaches". Unfortunately for them HR squashed that reasoning, because I was a County employee had tenure over anyone who was employed after me with QACPS System.
- I met with Sid Pinder and Dr. Carol Williamson. I was told they "we will just tell John (the principal) we want you to be the coach of KIHS and for them to figure it out". John Screchongost (The principal) did not do what he was directed to do. Upon my phone discussion with John shortly after, he basically said if it were up to him he would keep me in place BUT, he has to honor and support his Athletic Directors (Dan Harding AD and VP) decisions. I kind of get that.
Now, you ask "why did the Athletic Director, Dan Harding not want Rusty back?"
Here are some fun facts-
-Never once was I called in written up or disciplined at QACPS or KIHS with either the old AD, David Cooper or the newer incompetent, AD Dan Harding.
-Yes - there were 3 families who tired to oust me a few years back because I didn't take any of their kids crap and regularly would toss them out of practice. I also stopped the practice of parents coming into our practice room spectating and or their commentary on practices, especially when they have never coached anything a day in their lives.
- The year they tried to oust me, we won States.
-Not one time did I EVER get a team point deducted for unsportsman like conduct in the corner of a mat at a tournament or dual meet, however I pushed the envelop and I'm am/was a very animated and verbal at times.
- I do not recall ever kicking any kid off the team, instead trying to work with them and get them to turn the corner. Some kids fell off for grades and were always welcomed back once they brought them up to the QACPS threshold.
So why then?
I pissed off the AD by making him look incompetent.. That's why I wasn't re-newed. It was as simple as that. My belief is, you can't make someone look like something, when they are that something......They did that to themselves. So I exposed Dan Harding's incompetence, but not deliberately.
- He did not know the rules on several subject matters and I went to MPSSAA for clarification as I often have across the years and would correct Dan Harding on his inability to learn or know the rules. I should have ran my questions up the chain and through Dan or his boss, Sid Pinder. I was so used to being self sufficient and figuring things out on my own, however, Dan Harding liked to shoot from the hip. QACPS does not have any written policies or practices in regards to Coaching Positions.
-In Post season, teams merge practices (4-6 teams)so the 5 or maybe 6 kids advancing in post season to regionals or States, have practice partners close to their own weights. Harding said that this was not permitted. The State sent me written language stating it was permitted and being practiced for the last 40 years. Counties have the final say. But QAC had nothing in writing and I asked that question.
- Then there was the Snow storm - Dan Harding stated that kids had to ride a bus in 10" of snow if the State tournament was still being held. The parents of the 5 kids who were advancing to States, had signed QACPS travel release forms and stated to me, their kids would not be riding any bus with 10" of snow on the ground and 4-6" on the road. The release forms and message from the parents were forwarded to Dan Harding. His response was, if they don't ride the Bus to the State tournament they would not be permitted to wrestle. That was passed along to the wrestlers and Parents. I was just the middle man passing along information. It pissed Dan off, that there wa push back from me, but was really from the Parents.
At the end of the Day - I shot my self in the foot. How? I asked questions. I challenged and corrected the AD when I knew he was wrong on subject matter, however always did it respectfully. But he was a young, immature and an inexperienced AD who I hope has grown from that experience as I have. He also had some character flaws (as we all do) in regards to speaking ill about other past coaches and teachers. He's under a microscope, not by me, but by others still employed with QACPS.
As for the comments about Schipul - Bob, I don't think there was any comparison other then win records. I was on pace to shatter Schipul's win record in less then half the time. I hold Mr. and Ms. Schipul in high regards as people and wrestling community, but there was nothing comparing character or coaching abilities.
In response to your comments - "Lets not forget that Rusty had the distinct and 1st time pleasure of a KI Wrestling coach of having many wrestlers that came through the rec. league systems, systems that were not around for past coaches to take advantage of." YES!!! FINALLY someone gets it!!! - the fruits of MY dedication and labor of love which no other wrestling coaches took the initiative to build and from the seeds I planted with Chesapeake Bay Wrestling (The vision). And for the record only 4 of my 14 Varsity starters, when we won States, wrestled in the CAWL around the Washington Beltway for stronger competition then AACO wrestling league could provide. The other 10 Varsity Starters of "The Dream Team" came up through the Junior League, that I started and coached simultaneously along with KIHS for several years. And I believe you Bob, helped fund the Start up of my CBW Junior league which is still going on today. BUT I note your tone of tarnishing and negativity towards Me, my visions when I started CBW and my accomplishments, which will be tough to match without the same amount of, or even more passion and commitment. And for the record, there has been Junior league wrestling since 1969, when I started. ;-), So yes - other wrestling coaches could have started, promoted, directed or participated in them and in the off season as I did, but just maybe, it was a "job" to them and not a lifestyle. But good attempt at trying to slam me. Good day Chap!
- I was not fired. My contract was not re-newed because (Tomatoe/Tomotoe) "they wanted to go into a different direction and have more HS teachers as coaches". Unfortunately for them HR squashed that reasoning, because I was a County employee had tenure over anyone who was employed after me with QACPS System.
- I met with Sid Pinder and Dr. Carol Williamson. I was told they "we will just tell John (the principal) we want you to be the coach of KIHS and for them to figure it out". John Screchongost (The principal) did not do what he was directed to do. Upon my phone discussion with John shortly after, he basically said if it were up to him he would keep me in place BUT, he has to honor and support his Athletic Directors (Dan Harding AD and VP) decisions. I kind of get that.
Now, you ask "why did the Athletic Director, Dan Harding not want Rusty back?"
Here are some fun facts-
-Never once was I called in written up or disciplined at QACPS or KIHS with either the old AD, David Cooper or the newer incompetent, AD Dan Harding.
-Yes - there were 3 families who tired to oust me a few years back because I didn't take any of their kids crap and regularly would toss them out of practice. I also stopped the practice of parents coming into our practice room spectating and or their commentary on practices, especially when they have never coached anything a day in their lives.
- The year they tried to oust me, we won States.
-Not one time did I EVER get a team point deducted for unsportsman like conduct in the corner of a mat at a tournament or dual meet, however I pushed the envelop and I'm am/was a very animated and verbal at times.
- I do not recall ever kicking any kid off the team, instead trying to work with them and get them to turn the corner. Some kids fell off for grades and were always welcomed back once they brought them up to the QACPS threshold.
So why then?
I pissed off the AD by making him look incompetent.. That's why I wasn't re-newed. It was as simple as that. My belief is, you can't make someone look like something, when they are that something......They did that to themselves. So I exposed Dan Harding's incompetence, but not deliberately.
- He did not know the rules on several subject matters and I went to MPSSAA for clarification as I often have across the years and would correct Dan Harding on his inability to learn or know the rules. I should have ran my questions up the chain and through Dan or his boss, Sid Pinder. I was so used to being self sufficient and figuring things out on my own, however, Dan Harding liked to shoot from the hip. QACPS does not have any written policies or practices in regards to Coaching Positions.
-In Post season, teams merge practices (4-6 teams)so the 5 or maybe 6 kids advancing in post season to regionals or States, have practice partners close to their own weights. Harding said that this was not permitted. The State sent me written language stating it was permitted and being practiced for the last 40 years. Counties have the final say. But QAC had nothing in writing and I asked that question.
- Then there was the Snow storm - Dan Harding stated that kids had to ride a bus in 10" of snow if the State tournament was still being held. The parents of the 5 kids who were advancing to States, had signed QACPS travel release forms and stated to me, their kids would not be riding any bus with 10" of snow on the ground and 4-6" on the road. The release forms and message from the parents were forwarded to Dan Harding. His response was, if they don't ride the Bus to the State tournament they would not be permitted to wrestle. That was passed along to the wrestlers and Parents. I was just the middle man passing along information. It pissed Dan off, that there wa push back from me, but was really from the Parents.
At the end of the Day - I shot my self in the foot. How? I asked questions. I challenged and corrected the AD when I knew he was wrong on subject matter, however always did it respectfully. But he was a young, immature and an inexperienced AD who I hope has grown from that experience as I have. He also had some character flaws (as we all do) in regards to speaking ill about other past coaches and teachers. He's under a microscope, not by me, but by others still employed with QACPS.
As for the comments about Schipul - Bob, I don't think there was any comparison other then win records. I was on pace to shatter Schipul's win record in less then half the time. I hold Mr. and Ms. Schipul in high regards as people and wrestling community, but there was nothing comparing character or coaching abilities.
In response to your comments - "Lets not forget that Rusty had the distinct and 1st time pleasure of a KI Wrestling coach of having many wrestlers that came through the rec. league systems, systems that were not around for past coaches to take advantage of." YES!!! FINALLY someone gets it!!! - the fruits of MY dedication and labor of love which no other wrestling coaches took the initiative to build and from the seeds I planted with Chesapeake Bay Wrestling (The vision). And for the record only 4 of my 14 Varsity starters, when we won States, wrestled in the CAWL around the Washington Beltway for stronger competition then AACO wrestling league could provide. The other 10 Varsity Starters of "The Dream Team" came up through the Junior League, that I started and coached simultaneously along with KIHS for several years. And I believe you Bob, helped fund the Start up of my CBW Junior league which is still going on today. BUT I note your tone of tarnishing and negativity towards Me, my visions when I started CBW and my accomplishments, which will be tough to match without the same amount of, or even more passion and commitment. And for the record, there has been Junior league wrestling since 1969, when I started. ;-), So yes - other wrestling coaches could have started, promoted, directed or participated in them and in the off season as I did, but just maybe, it was a "job" to them and not a lifestyle. But good attempt at trying to slam me. Good day Chap!