To the Editor:
Last year Triton High School had no athletic budget yet athletics survived because of the hard work and generosity of many people. The importance of athletics within our school community never should be underestimated.
I am amazed and very concerned with the recent articles written in The Daily News in regards to Triton athletics and the athletic department. Once again the press is helping to divide the school and the community; and yes I do understand you are trying to do your job and sell newspapers, however, start by getting the facts straight.
The new part-time athletic director, Dave Dempsey, was hired after the controversy happened with one-year hockey coach Drew Wile. He tried to convince coach Wile to stay and work through the issues. However, Malden Catholic had offered him multiple coaching opportunities and a full time teaching position. He left on his own for his own reasons. He was not fired. This newspaper has made him out to be a legend at Triton for one year of coaching hockey? Can we move on?
The interview process you have reported about taking place at Triton seems to have brought forward a new head football coach. Obviously, the goal is to put the best possible candidate in place to lead the program for our kids.
Is Coach McElligott well liked by the students? Absolutely! He is coaching two other varsity sports plus teaching. Everyone needs to realize how difficult and time consuming it is to be the leader of high school football program. The head coach is about leadership, not likability.
You have enabled the basketball coach at Triton to have a forum to voice his opinion about Dave Dempsey and the interview process. The fact is, for the past seven years Triton's basketball record is 20-120. There are multiple kids within the school in all grades that did not participate in the program this year. Is this acceptable? Once again, it's about the kids.
Lastly, I am tired of the inference that cheerleading coach Erin Dempsey is the beneficiary of the firing of the old cheerleading coach and that her father hired her. Mr. Dempsey knew that it would cause controversy as has been written. However, Kevin McLaughlin, the high school principal, determined it to be best for the kids and the program in order to move it forward. Erin Dempsey is a wonderful English teacher and person who has helped my son, Cam, both in the classroom and much with his future college plans. Sh deserves better, as she is most definitely about the kids!
John Kneeland
Rowley
Editor's note: The day of hockey coach Drew Wile's firing coincided with Athletic Director David Dempsey's start date.
