"School's job, not fans, to hire and fire coach" from the March 30, 1971 Door County Advocate
By JIM ROBERTSON
School's job, not fans, to hire and fire coach
By JIM ROBERTSON
The recent "scandal" which led to the resignation of Jim Dietrich, Manitowoc basketball coach, should prick the conscience of any individual who in a casual or subtle way has at some time or the other tried to exert his or her influence towards either the removal or the selection of an athletic coach.
Dietrich said he was subjected to harassment, mostly consisting of anonymous phone calls and letters, which for the good of himself and his family forced his resignation. An investigation by the district attorney's office led to the conclusion that the harassment was conducted either by a small minority or a group of individuals intent on forcing the resignation of the 30 year old coach.
The case has given Manitowoc a black eye because it takes only one bad apple to spoil a whole barrel and yet it has to be conceded that the individual or individuals whose target was Dietrich's resignation accomplished his or their purpose.
Dietrich's resignation can be interpreted in two ways, that it was justified or that his skin wasn't quite tough enough to take what he considered unjust criticism. Anybody in the public eye, whether it be government, church, school or press, cannot satisfy everybody. Newspapermen often receive critical anonymous letters but the thick-skinned editors and reporters fire them at the wastebasket where they belong while the thin-skinned resign and take a job in public relations.
This newspaperman, not satisfied with the arrows tossed at him in this business, bared his hide to public darts even more when he took a term as a school board member, in a newly organized district, no less. It was an eye opening experience from the standpoint of learning to handle administrative authority as It should be handled, not just passing out grease to the wheels that squeak the loudest.
But I had learned one lesson along this line early in my newspaper career. It came when Sturgeon Bay high school was looking for a new coach and I came out in print suggesting one whom I thought was best qualified. This brought a letter from Werner Witte, vice principal of Appleton high school (and vice president of the Advocate) who pointed out that the school administration, not newspaper writers, should select the coaches.
Although at the time I probably disagreed, that I had as much right as anybody to voice thy preference for a coach, my years on the school board have brought me in wholehearted agreement with Mr. Witte, that it is the job of the administration with approval of the school board to pick the faculty, coaches Included. Anybody who wants to play a part in this selection should run for the school board where he will be provided a careful, confidential review of applicants and their qualifications, not take their shots from the sidelines.
"Pressure" such as the harassment received by Dietrich at Manitowoc has never been.known in Door county, at least it hasn't come out into the open, but there is pressure of a more, subtle sort under which school boards and administrators here labor. Criticism of the coach is quick to come in a down year, even in a big year if "he" blows the big game.
But the average coach considers this part of the game. After all, he's paid enough to take care of this sideline commentary. The average Door county coach pulls down the fabulous sum of $300 a year for his coaching!
As ridiculous as the pay is, coaches coach because of other reasons, mainly because they love boys and they love the game. Most of them will tell you they can take the grandstand quarterbacking if they have the backing of the administration and the school board. And these administrators and school board members must weigh the criticism carefully. The won-loss record of any coach is but a partial reflection of his capabilities. His true worth is reflected in the character and knowledge gained by his boys, not Just on the football field and basketball floor but in the classroom.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive