It#8217;s time to take action and fix Ironton athletic department problems Jim Walker/The Ironton Tribune
Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 3, 2006
As I was sitting in the living room Tuesday afternoon, my daughter Rachel came in from track practice, picked up the newspaper and read the teaser at the top of the front page: Chillicothe hires Amy Hughes as girls’ coach.
She turned and looked at me with disbelief and horror. She turned to the story and began to read. Tears began to roll down her cheeks.
She didn’t want to lose her basketball coach. Nor do I want her to lose her coach. And to see her hurt like that made me mad.
No, I take that back. Furious.
The coaching uncertainty at Ironton High School ultimately is hurting one group: the kids.
It’s time somebody steps up.
I’m tired of the games that are being played behind the scenes. I’m tired of the rumors and stall tactics in hopes the situation dies down and so things go on as planned.
The football players at the high school are feeling the same way as my daughter. They’re being knocked out of the way as turmoil continues in the athletic program.
One player who works at Bartram & Son Grocery said to me the other day, “I’m worried about the coaches. Are they coming back?”
I told him not to worry. I told him to keep getting ready for next season and the adults will take care of it.
Well, it’s time to take care of it and the person who has to take care of it is Dean Nance, superintendent of the Ironton City Schools.
Mr. Nance, you know what you have to do and that’s to make the adjustments in the athletic department that will return it to the environment we’ve all grown accustomed. Do what’s in the best interest of the students, the program, the parents and the school system. Cut all other ties. The students are supposed to come first in your job, so do the job.
We’ve lost two great coaches in Bob Lutz and Roger Zornes. Why?
Now, Amy Hughes is leaving a program where she’s won 80 games in four years and a state tournament berth in exchange for a program that was 3-18 last season. You’ve got to be kidding?
And she’s not doing it just because she’s getting more money. She has told me that.
Until late last week Amy hadn’t signed a contract with either Ironton or Chillicothe. I’m still holding out hope that she’ll stay and my daughter can exchange those tears of sadness for tears of joy.
I’m not a teacher in the school system except for my substitute work, so unlike others I don’t have to worry about retaliation for expressing my opinion.
Like I said. It’s time for the adults to step up and be adults.
Jim Walker is sports editor of The Ironton Tribune.