Parents, players and staff members filled a Gilbert school board meeting Tuesday night to share their disapproval – or praise - of a football coach’s recent firing.
The debate stemmed from the firing last week of Gilbert High School football coach Leland Rodgers, who just completed his first season as head coach for the Tigers.
Rodgers told the Tribune that he was dismissed as coach on Friday after he refused to resign.
Several people chose to speak during the Gilbert Unified School District’s regularly scheduled board meeting during the public comment period, though no discussion or vote was on the agenda regarding Rodgers.
“Please investigate the firing of Leland Rodgers and the handling by the administration,” Austin McClellan asked the board. McClellan serves as the freshmen defensive coordinator. He said the parents and students have been failed because of what happened.
“And a good man’s name has been dragged through the mud.”
Tigers football team member Miguel Meza, 15, a sophomore, talked about some of the tough treatment at football camp prior to the start of the season. But, he said, “What happened was not bad.”
“When you take away the coach, you destroy the program. … No one’s going to want to play for Gilbert,” Meza said.
Football camp was a common theme among those who addressed the governing board. Some said Rodgers went overboard with the team with punishment. Others said it’s just part of football camp.
“It’s not Leland Rodgers you should feel sorry for, but the students and athletes who have had this to endure,” said Remy Carrasco. “I have said since camp that every one of the coaches should be fired.”
Carrasco was at camp as a member of the freshmen team staff, but left that role when the team returned.
Senior Zach Berry, 18, another member of the team, said Rodgers was tough, but effective.
“I’ve never had a coach like him who pushed us. I’d like you to reconsider.”
Rodgers told the Tribune last week he was let go because of an anonymous parents' accusations of improper treatment of players. Rodgers said he did nothing wrong. He remains a teacher at Gilbert High School.
Carrasco said he was interviewed by the district as part of an investigation into Rodgers’ coaching.
Board member Staci Burk asked district leaders to provide a report to the board on Rodgers’ firing.
District spokeswoman Dianne Bowers in an email Wednesday morning: "The report to the board will simply be an informational report. There is no further investigation."
Contact writer: (480) 898-6549 or mreese@evtrib.com
ExGilbertFootballFan posted at 2:22 pm on Wed, Dec 5, 2012.
I would like to state a FACT that Remy Carrasco did not leave the GHS football program, he was fired.
DonMey posted at 3:38 pm on Wed, Dec 5, 2012.
Details are sparse, but what I've gleaned is that parents objected to the coach making the players do too much exercise? Seriously? Is that what this is about? Because I didn't see any reports of kids collapsing or being admitted into the hospital for heat exhaustion/dehydration whatever.
ExGilbertFootballFan posted at 4:15 pm on Wed, Dec 5, 2012.
@asu63 it is obvious that you, Sandra Lescoe, are the disgruntled parent that has a vendetta for Coach Rodgers and his staff. You are the one who is trying to slander a well respected person like Coach Rodgers. It's sad to hear that you have ruined your sons Senior year by your erroneous allegations. That have been dismissed over and over by the district and administration. And still try to continue to ruin a great educator, coach, and father's name. Why don't you just give it a rest already? You've already done enough damage and yet everything you say gets dismissed or proven invalid?
After watching the board meeting last night, I would also like to point out that Remy Corrasco also stated false statements. For someone who spent 3 minutes explaining his credentials didn't do a good job of telling the truth. FACT- Remy didn't leave the GHS football program, he was fired. He stated that he left the program after camp, that is FALSE. He was coaching for weeks after camp before being fired. If anything he was the first person to start slandering the football program and their coaches. If your going to go up in front of 60+ people at least state the truth otherwise just sit there and listen.
WesternConnections posted at 5:07 pm on Wed, Dec 5, 2012.
It’s bad enough that GPS is known for retaliation against teachers and staff … now they’ve fired a football coach over an anonymous complaint by a parent. That was guaranteed to cause an uproar.
Board member Lily Tram read the standard admonition about criticizing employees in this public forum. Why in the world did board president EJ Anderson allow the public criticisms to continue? (Abuse? Mental and physical? These are very serious allegations.) Those criticisms were DEFAMATORY by any measure. That failure of leadership, that disregard for the most basic laws governing a school board meeting, will reverberate for a long time. More at http://westieconnect.com/archives/545
LoveFootball posted at 7:57 pm on Wed, Dec 5, 2012.
BTW... Remy was NOT fired... he quit due to the issues at camp. get the reports before you state "facts'.
Anonymous 40 posted at 8:27 pm on Wed, Dec 5, 2012.
@DonMay Since you do not seem very informed on the subject. I will help you out by letting you know that at their football camp this summer, during a 1 A.M. Punishment in the pitch black, 1 player was hospitalized because he was having difficulties breathing and 2 others were diagnosed with concussions from hitting their heads on wood and concrete during the punishment. I am not trying to call anyone out. I am simply stating facts from a reliable source.
UR2Dumb posted at 11:10 pm on Wed, Dec 5, 2012.
WHAT? @Anonymous...are you insensuating that there might possibly have been some bad judgment calls made by Mr. Rodgers that could have led to his firing? [angry] How could that be? I thought those meanies at the District Office were just picking their innocent teacher/coach of the month to skewer without due cause? What is happening here? This is an absolute outrage!! I call for a meeting at the next School Board Meeting to get to the bottom of this!!! This is just horrific...how sad... I plan on recruiting a bunch of trailer trash to attend and speak on his behalf!
keepkiddingyourself posted at 11:11 pm on Wed, Dec 5, 2012.
@LoveFootball nice try but you've been misinformed. What was stated by @ExGilbertFootballFan about Remy is Factual.
Remy claims that he quit coaching because abuse went on at camp and he didn't agree with it. But that is untrue. Remy continued coaching for three weeks after camp and then he was fired. He was fired for trying to run his own offense and talking bad about the program. It wasn't until after his firing that he started raising issues about the so called "abuse". His claims were investigated by Christopher Stroud, Dan Haasch, and Jeff Falloon and they confirmed to the coaches that the allegations were false and that Remy was a liar who was disgruntled.
ExGilbertFootballFan posted at 9:15 am on Thu, Dec 6, 2012.
@Anonymous 40 I would also like to correct your comment on the injuries that took place during camp. One player was hospitalized but it was due to an asthma attack and the player did not bring his inhaler. One player was diagnosed with a mild concussion. Yet his mom is currently one of Coach Rodgers biggest supporters! This are facts from the source.
I'm a GHS alumni, I've kept up with GHS football news ever since I played for Coach Parker in the early 2000's. I've been very optimistic that someday GHS would build an elite football program like they used to have many years ago. With the hire of Coach Rodgers last year I felt like it was on it's way of happening. But it was obvious when I played for Coach Parker and it's obvious now. There will never be support from the administration and community to let it happen. Gilbert High School will never have a competitive football team. At least they have a great band program though right? It's sad to see such a pathetic community that I've vouched for, for so many years. I will no longer support the GPS or Gilbert High School.
I will continue to support Coach Rodgers due to the fact that I believe he is an elite coach along with a genuinely great educator and person. He will be an elite coach when he gets an honest chance. As for keeping up with High School football I suppose I will have to take an interest into a Chandler or Ahwatukee school because they obviously support their football programs enough to excel.
Go Away Meddling Parents posted at 2:46 pm on Thu, Dec 6, 2012.
This is similar to what a guy named Richard Martinez, Sr. does at McClintock HS: Contacts school board members to cry about how players are being yelled at, coaches are "too hard" on players, etc. That guy has personally destroyed McClintock athletics, so it looks like he has been giving advice to some Gilbert parents. Nice going D _ _ K !!!!!
BRE posted at 5:18 pm on Thu, Dec 6, 2012.
Bring back Coach Parker! This guy (Rodgers) was nothing more then a used car salesman! He told everyone what they wanted to hear, but didnt produce! I know he wasnt on the field making the plays but when you run on 1st down, run again on 2nd and then on 3rd and long hmmm I wonder what your gonna call! Get a real coach who has a proven record!
ASU63 posted at 6:16 pm on Thu, Dec 6, 2012.
ExGilbertFooballFan-Going to go after retired professor's and grandparents now? Mr. Rodgers and friends, you do like to bully wome, children, and grandparents. You say you want to face your accusers then why didn't you go to Board meeting and speak about your truth. You have kids defend you who can't cut grades and most who sat the bench themselves.
Who is a liar? Credible investigations are completed by outside unbiased entities. Men who have nothing to hide don't have to tell kids to lie, follow their own rules of accountability, and are big enough to fight their own battles. You lost your coaching position and if you do lose your teaching job it is because of what you are doing now. Your integrity or Remy? Remy 100%. You are a coward for bringing his children into this. He probably waited to quit because he realized camp was not an isolated incident but actually how this guy rolls. Can you say "nut case"! You are the only one that keeps accusing moms, kids, and other coaches. Get an attorney or call the PD if you didn't do anything. Better yet, the parents who keep getting named should get an attorney and hold Mr. Rodgers accountable for his lies and the divide he has created among the kids..
ExGilbertFootballFan posted at 8:27 am on Fri, Dec 7, 2012.
@asu63 What are you talking about? Can you ever state factual information? All I have been stating is factual information. How can you say your credible investigations are completely unbiased when you are the one that conducted them?! I do have to give you credit, one lady can bring down a football program and destroy a good persons name. It must be nice to have the amount of power that you have. Personally if I had that much power I would be trying to build up programs for the good and not be so negative all the time. All I am is a distraught GHS football fan. Apparently you have never been part of a program that effected you so much that you continued to support it well after you were apart of it.
And when are you going to quit this power trip? You have done enough already don't you think? You've single handily destroyed a football program, destroyed a good coaches reputation, destroyed a great father and husband, destroyed multiple kids dreams and now are trying to go to the police and turn all your false allegations into a legal matter? You got what you wanted, move on already.