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Friday, November 30, 2007

MTHS basketball coach let go after 23 years

Posted by Ron Soussa at 6:30 PM

For the better part of 23 years, Rich Vuyosevich has been coaching varsity boys basketball at Montville High School. This year, the only way he will be a part of the Mustangs basketball program is as a spectator. He's not happy about it.

Vuyosevich's contract to coach boys basketball was denied in a meeting of the Montville Board of Education in late October. The board has since hired a new coach, Paul Palek, to lead the varsity team, which began practices after Thanksgiving. Vuyosevich was not given a reason for why his contract wasn't approved.

The refusal for Vuyosevich's $8,000 coaching contract to be renewed is puzzling for a variety of reasons. The biggest may be that representatives of the Montville Coaches Association were told that Vuyosevich was recommended by the school's athletic director, principal and superintendent, but he was still not rehired. See Daily Record.

Labels: board of education, schools

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28 Comments:

This whole thing was orchestrated by one parent who had it in for the coach. He is friendly with BOE members and convinced them not to hire the coach back. Then the guy goes out and recruits people to coach the team. This stuff is common with youth sports but is supposed to stop when they get to high school. This is a travesty and the 5 BOE members who voted the coach out should be ashamed.

Posted by Anonymous on December 12, 2007 12:19 AM

Which 5 BOE members voted him out?

Posted by Anonymous on December 12, 2007 2:33 PM

People criticize educators for wanting tenure. This is exactly why. It is a shame that Jon Alin can have so much pull

Posted by Anonymous on December 12, 2007 7:55 PM

This all comes down to a group of parents, or one set of parents who have enough power (or money) to get rid of V. He is a good coach and a good guy, and he doesn't deserve this. People need to wake up and stop voting for John Alin. He has done nothing but negative things for this district.

Posted by Anonymous on December 13, 2007 10:51 AM

Isn't making staff changes one of the things that the BOE is supposed to do?

If you don't like their choices then quit complaining and vote them out.

And nobody deserves a job for life, which is what tenure is.

Posted by just saying on December 14, 2007 2:32 PM

If this is not performance related then it can only be political. It's more than just "a shame" when this happens, it's a conspiracy that deprived a good person of his livelihood. I hope the new coach is flexible enough to kowtow to the powers.

Posted by Anonymous on December 14, 2007 3:39 PM

Tenure is probably the worse thing ever when it comes to teachers. Whoever caved to the union with that crap is probably a billionaire with all the kickbacks he must be getting.

Tenure should be outlawed. Where else in this country can someone get a job, be terrible at it and there's nothing you can do about it? Heck, the unions go the distance defending rotten teachers as do the principals etc. Just sweep everything under the rug b/c of tenure. A disgrace.

Posted by Anonymous on December 15, 2007 1:14 PM

It's one thing when the board makes a change. It's another when one parent runs a coach out of town.

Posted by Anonymous on December 15, 2007 4:29 PM

It is so sad when certain parents have so much control in matters such as this. I would love to go back to the days when the parents stayed out of what was going on in the schools and concentrated on what was really going on in their own homes. I am sick of parents making excuses to what their children are doing and instead they throw their money and big mouths around.

Posted by Anonymous on December 17, 2007 10:23 AM

I think it is time we get real when it comes to sports in town. There is more to belonging to a team than winning, and the truth of the matter is Montville is not noted for producing division 1 players. I think the lessons learned along the way is more important. Coach V respected the players and that is something that should speak for itself. We should expect our players who conduct themselves on and off the field or court in a mature way. I am so tired of the double standard when the star athletes get away with everything. Wake up parents

Posted by Anonymous on December 17, 2007 11:31 AM

The Montville school board has once again diverted itself unnecessarily from its primary duties by taking on a personnel matter that has the appearance of bowing to some misguided parental pressure. The contract for longstanding basketball coach Rich Vuyosevich was not renewed by a 5-4vote of the board in October.

The narrowness of the vote and the overriding of the recommendations for renewal by the superintendent, principal and athletic director, as well as the change in contract renewal time from June to October, indicate that there is more to this story than meets the eye. The board, of course, cannot discuss personnel matters and quickly renewed spring coaching contracts in November when challenged on the new timing procedure. A grievance procedure and possible lawsuits are the usual outcomes of actions like these, all to the detriment of the taxpayer.

There are many larger issues than this facing all public bodies. Let's keep our eye on the substantial problems rather than going out of the way to create side issues that hurt individuals, while consuming time and resources better spent on substantive matters.

Editor's Note: The above appeared in the Daily Record on December 17, 2007.

Posted by KENNETH J. ABERE on December 17, 2007 2:32 PM

The problem here is that when you confront a board member on this issue they tell you that they can't comment because it is a personnel matter. How long do they get to hide behind this lame and cowardly excuse? If you are going to make decisions like this then "man-up" and take the heat!

Posted by Anonymous on December 17, 2007 5:32 PM

Every single sport in Montville is controlled by town politics. It's all about who knows who, who has money, and who has power. It starts at the Broncos and it never stops. It's all about who you know in this lovely town. Let the kids play, that is what it is supposed to be about. Parents need to mind their own business. Their part is to sit in the stands and cheer, that is where they should stay. On another note, why does everyone keep voting for Alin? He's the majority of the problem with anything school related, and he never has any answers.

Posted by out of control on December 18, 2007 11:42 AM

I was absolutely outraged when I read Mark Kitchin's article about Rich Vuyosevich not being rehired as head basketball coach at Montville. That decision was absolutely ludicrous.

I was a mathematics teacher and the head basketball coach at Montville just before Vuyosevich became the varsity coach. I was lucky enough to have some very talented, dedicated players and two knowledgeable and valuable assistants in Mike Gillen and Vuyosevich.

With all of their help we were fortunate enough to win the school's first basketball conference championship.

In 1981, after a 20-win season, it was necessary to resign my positions at Montville to enter the business world. Vuyosevich was the obvious choice to succeed me. He has done an excellent job over the years. He is a very knowledgeable basketball man.

But his true value is in how much he cares about his players. Kids don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Montville has lost an excellent person,
Vuyosevich was recommended by three educators at Montville: the superintendent, the principal and the athletic director. However, the school board chose to ignore those recommendations. It sounds like "little Billy was not getting enough playing time, so his parents complained." Many people complain about the power of the NJEA and the tenure rules. Actions by this school board are exactly why the NJEA needs its power. Don't be surprised if this case becomes the catalyst for all high school coaches in New Jersey to unite for their own protection.

Editor's Note: The above appeared in the Daily Record on December 18, 2007

Posted by JOHN C. KRAUSS on December 18, 2007 1:47 PM

The contract denial of the Montville basketball coach is truly unworthy in my opinion. I do not have any contact in Montville, but as a sport's enthusiast, I truly see this as the "parents' wrath" that their kids are not playing. When are parents going to learn that their child comes up through the ranks, preferably in youth sports in their towns, and that everyone is supposed to get some playing time.

In high school, the rules change. It is the best five in basketball, nine in baseball, 11 in football, etc., etc. They are the ones who play most of the time. I am not saying this is right but that's how it is; and, if a child continues to play in college, it is the same thing.

The Montville Board of Education should hang their heads in shame, especially for telling the coach in October that he was not being rehired for this season. I hope some other local school picks him up.

With all his experience as a great coach, he deserves it. And I'll be watching the results of Montville's basketball program.

Editor's Note: The above appeared in the Daily Record on December 19, 2007.

Posted by ELEANOR HOLLISTER on December 19, 2007 9:28 PM

team is 3-0, so maybe this wasn't a bad move afterall!

Posted by Anonymous on December 22, 2007 2:17 PM

Are you an idiot? What don't you get about this whole situation. It is not about wins or loses. It's about doing the right thing. Do you can the coach after every losing season? Do you can the coach every time a parent complains? Do you can the coach every time a kid goes out of district? The answer is NO! The Bd. of Ed. screwed up. End of story. They will pay come next election...if they have the nerve to run again!

Posted by Anonymous on December 24, 2007 3:37 PM

No you don't can the coach after every losing season, but after many losing seasons you may need to, no matter how nice the guy is.

Posted by Anonymous on December 25, 2007 7:08 AM

Fire him in June not October. How is he supposed to find another position 3 weeks before the season?

Posted by Anonymous on December 26, 2007 6:34 PM

Time to "change" BOE members in Montville - Candidates for BOE elections in 2008 can pick up the candidacy forms now from the BOE building.

Posted by Anonymous on January 23, 2008 4:00 PM

It is interesting that on some issues the board members will say that personnel decisions are up to the superintendent, but on others, they ignore the recommendations of the superintendent and make the personnel decision themselves. I am very concerned that politics is getting in the way of the superintendent doing his job.

Posted by Anonymous on January 23, 2008 5:16 PM

Lets give him tenure instead, still work 180 days, pay his benefits, let him do nothing new year after year, He will complain like all the other teachers and then retire and we owe him for the next 20 years of his life whine whine whine Get a real job in the real world. Anybody doesn`t agree with me spend a day or two in the schools and look at your tax bill

Posted by Anonymous on January 24, 2008 6:50 AM

Winning is great, but it is not everything. Sportsmanship, teamwork, getting along with others, taking failure gracefully and learning from mistakes are MUCH MORE IMPORTANT LESSONS for life. If this coach was doing this (and it sounds like he was), then this town lost a gem. Our kids are certainly not getting those lessons from some of the parent coaches.

Posted by Anonymous on January 24, 2008 10:14 AM

I was involved for many years as a coach with Montville basketball.So I have some personal knowledge of the situation. My opinion is Coach V should have been replaced a long time ago. His coaching skills were definitely sub par. Many individuals found him to be self serving. What type of Coach finds it pleasurable to see players/students fail? A non caring, nasty, individual like Coach V did. Montville sports will be better off without him. This decision was not political, this was long overdue! My hat goes off to the parents for getting involved. They will benefit with the change.

Posted by Anonymous on January 24, 2008 2:27 PM

Annonymous 2:27 PM: You missed the point entirely! No one said that his time wasn't up. The issue was with the way it was done. Instead of removing him back in the summer (when policy dictates) he was axed 3 weeks before the season. The superintendent, principal and AD all new that the timing of this was all wrong. For God's sake, let the man leave with some dignity. Give him time to find another position in another district. The BOE didn't just drop the ball here, they allowed one player's parent, who happens to be a buddy of the BOE president, to influence their decision. BTW, just because you had a difference of opinion with Coach V over son #1 doesn't make you right. Alot of kids did well by him. Hope son #2 is doing better elsewhere.

Posted by Anonymous on January 27, 2008 9:18 PM

To the know it all daddy coach. I have known Coach V for the past 15 years and his coaching skills are right up there. He is well respected in the coaching community.Very unselfish and has his heart for the kids on the court and in the classroom.Don't blame the the lack of athletic ability on the coaches,as many who know the game "You improve your game in the off season".

Posted by Anonymous on February 3, 2008 8:49 AM

After reading all of the postings, it is obvious that every one has strong opinions about this highly charged incident. In my opinion, these opinions are based on emotions and what is perceived to be “the right thing to do”. Question like: Was the timing of the non-renewal appropriate? Did the coach put in the time with the kids? Was it a winning program? Did powerful Montville parents have it out for the coach because their children weren’t getting enough PT. It appears, that there is no consensus, so I suggest that we explore a way to insure that there are some objective criteria in place to judge any coaches worth.

We should first look into how coaches are recruited and chosen. It has been my experience that often times our HS coaches are unqualified to coach their sport and apparently chosen because they teach in the school and need to earn extra money. While I am not suggesting these teachers don’t work very hard at their after school endeavors, don’t our children deserve the best available candidate for all the effort they put into sports? Let’s recruit and interview coaches as we would any position in the school and judge them on their merits.

One of the comments referred to results not being about “wins and losses” and I agree. Sometimes there is not enough talent to be successful. Perhaps a questioner could be created to send to students who have graduated that could uncover any positive or negative aspects of their sports experience. Students, after graduation, would not be subjected to the coercion from piers or coaches and would benefit from a year or two of maturity.

Certainly, many of us, when we look back with a new level of maturity, have had coaches or teachers that have had a positive result on our lives, weather or not we played much or got the grade we would have liked. Some of the questions could be: How did the coach affect your love for the game? What did you learn about the sport? Did you improve? Did you think the coach had the best interest of the team in mind? Professionals already on the High School payroll should devise the survey. The goal would be to understand what is going on in the minds of our children regarding their sport and their coach. If we look at this as an isolated incident I believe we miss the point.

It is my understanding that this is not the first time that Coach V has been under fire and that he was almost replaced at least one other time before a last ditch lobbing effort on his part saved him. This too, may have been the result of subjective thinking by that particular group of parents. In the end these decisions will always be subjective unless measures are put in place to more clearly define what a coaches role is and to what extent he or she succeeds in that role.

Posted by Anonymous on March 13, 2008 12:03 PM

Yea if i remember the year they almost fired him he was the daily record morris county coach of the year, star ledger morris county coach of the year and northern hills coach of the yeat, tell me who looked like a fool BOE

Posted by Anonymous on March 14, 2008 10:56 PM