The next to go?: Triton boys basketball coach voices displeasure over firings of three colleagues

Triton boys basketball coach Tim Connell remembers the day he lost confidence in his first-year athletic director.

Last winter, midway through Connell's seventh season as Triton Regional High School's head coach, his assistant, Brad Smith, informed him that recently appointed athletic director David Dempsey wanted to relay a message: Connell's job was in jeopardy.

On one hand, it wasn't hard for the veteran coach to comprehend. His team had a record of 1-9, and two coaches of winter sports teams at Triton had already been removed from their positions that winter. But what Connell didn't expect was to learn of the potential change from his assistant.

"Dave stated he thought removing the basketball coach might bring back more interest and a different culture to the program," Connell said. "The disappointing thing for me was I had to hear that my job was in jeopardy, and I had to hear it from a colleague instead of the AD. If that's something that needs to be discussed with me, I think it should come from him."

Dempsey, according to Connell, also expressed a concern for the head coach's health in his conversation with Smith. Dempsey referenced Connell's weight loss, which Connell claims was the result of long work days, exercise, and a week-long affliction with bronchitis. Connell said it was not uncommon for him to work until 10 p.m. during basketball season. He'd also run four to five miles per day up to five days a week.

"Again it was disappointing because (Dempsey) brought up questions about my health and thought it was being negatively affected because I was losing a little weight," said Connell. "If he had questions, why not check in with me first instead of having Brad ask?"

Connell remains the incumbent Triton boys basketball coach, but he is not under contract for next season. All Triton coaches, like coaches at most other schools, are under one-year contracts.

By rule of the Triton teacher's contract, Connell's position will be posted in The Daily News and on the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Web site this summer. Should any other candidates apply, Connell will have to re-interview for the position. If another applicant is deemed to be more qualified by Triton's interview panel, which includes two athletes, one parent, an administrator and a member of the school staff, Connell will be replaced.

In Dempsey's 10 months in his position, three coaches — football coach Shawn McElligott, hockey coach Drew Wile and cheerleading coach Kristen Almquist — have been let go.

Dempsey served as a special education instructor last year under Triton Principal Bob Manseau. Kevin McLaughlin, the former athletic director, earned a promotion when Manseau retired last summer. Dempsey was appointed to fill the AD vacancy effective July 1.

Connell claims his relationship with Dempsey began to deteriorate before the basketball season.

"The frustrating thing for me was I thought our communication was pretty good," Connell said. "I was in there on a regular basis throughout the fall. We had some issues as a department, but we were dealing with them as a department. But there have been a lot of things that have gone on that have led the coaches to become disenfranchised. I love Triton and I don't want to damage it, but I don't feel comfortable. I don't like what's going on because it seems like things are not going in a positive direction."

Dempsey yesterday refuted Connell's version of his meeting with Smith during the basketball season. When contacted by The Daily News, Smith refused to comment on the record. Smith has also served as the head coach of the boys soccer team for the past 21 seasons.

"Brad came in, and we talked about the culture of the school, especially since I was new here," Dempsey stated. "We talked about several of the sports programs. The basketball program was discussed as well as the soccer program and several others, but it wasn't about removing the basketball coach."

Triton School District Superintendent Sandra Halloran said yesterday Dempsey does not have the authority to make personnel decisions in the coaching ranks. That responsibility, she said, is given to the principal. However, the athletic director can make recommendations concerning personnel decisions.

When informed of Connell's version of the story concerning Dempsey's discussion with Smith, Halloran said such behavior by the athletic director would be deemed unethical.

"Dave wouldn't have the authority to make that kind of statement (discussing a dismissal of a coach) to a third party," Halloran said. "That would be very unethical and unprofessional for someone to do."

Triton's policy to advertise every coaching position as a vacancy prior to each sports season has many coaches feeling insecure. After meeting with a legal counsel to analyze the language of the teachers contract, Halloran and Dempsey determined earlier this year that the words "advertise" required the first-year athletic director to post the vacancies both inside and outside the school district. No previous Triton athletic director adhered to the same policy.

Ironically, Dempsey's athletic director position was not advertised outside the district last summer. He was hired by former McLaughlin, the former athletic director, who he claims "I never knew before I came here."

"The new administration is following that language because, according to the contract, we are supposed to post and advertise," Halloran said. "Unfortunately, this has just not been followed in the past.

"What the principal is trying to do is follow the contract, make improvements, and make the school more high-performing. He is not doing anything different in the athletic department that he wouldn't do in any other area of the school," Halloran said. "We are not trying to clean house or get rid of people; we are attempting to make sure we have the best people in each position. There are a lot of coaches here that do a lot of good, and we don't have an ulterior motive."

Still, the three coaching changes have raised many questions among the Triton parents and students. After Dempsey's daughter, Erin Dempsey, was hired to replace Almquist in December, at least one parent of a Triton cheerleading filed a complaint to the state ethics committee.

"I don't know what to think of the current situation because it's easy for people to have an opinion on the outside and not know the inner workings," said the retired Manseau. "I thought it was a very competent staff when I left, but I am cautious to form a judgement of what's going on because the circumstances could be different."

For many Triton coaches, McElligott's removal as football coach was the final straw. McElligott, who also coaches wrestling and track, is one of four Triton alumni in the coaching ranks along with field hockey coach Donna Andersen, softball coach Jim Hounam, girls lacrosse coach Stacey Beaulieu and Smith.

"That left everybody with this big sense of uncertainty," Beaulieu said. "There's that feeling of, 'What the heck is going on? What's the point of all of the policy changes?' The communication seems weak because we don't have any answers. From the coach to the AD, the communication is not a problem. But the communication to the community and kids might be a problem."

The financial situation at Triton does not make the task any easier on the coaches. Two years ago, Triton implemented a pay-to-play requirement where user fees for particular sports teams approached $800. Connell remembers McElligott being one of the strongest Triton supporters during that time.

"If I have one thing to say about (McElligott), when a community needed coaches to stand up and unite with everyone to try to provide our kids with support, Shawn had all the financial backing from the football boosters to have a season," Connell said. "Instead he stood up and said, 'I will not have a football team and walk out on the field when none of the other sports teams are out on the fields.'

"The fact that two years later he has been replaced, on a professional and personal basis, is extremely disappointing after all the money he raised for the Triton Heroes fund," Connell said. "You hear coaches like Steve Padovani say, 'Shawn is awesome, he comes to every game, and he was there the other day for my 10 a.m. game in Lynnfield.' Shawn is always promoting Triton. If Shawn is not good enough to be the head football coach, then I'm certainly not good enough to be the head basketball coach. Whatever he's not, the rest of us pale in comparison."

The reaction to McElligott's dismissal also sent shock waves through the Triton student body, leading to several protests. One group of students hung signs across the school in support of McElligott. Several others created a group on the Web site www.facebook.com called "Coach Mac Awareness Group" in which 245 Triton members and growing joined to voice their concerns.

"I was actually a part of one protest where we put up signs with several letters and various anonymous comments, all of which were appropriate, in support of Coach Mac," said Triton track star Michelle Bashaw. "I just wrote about how he was so exemplary and how I didn't agree with him getting removed. He would tape kids at practice to show them mistakes that needed fixing, he would buy kids T-shirts and food at meets, and the lessons he taught on the field were far more important than the record he amassed in the wins and losses column."

"I feel like the administration taking down the signs was somewhat of an admission of guilt," Bashaw said. "I think if they felt totally confident they would have left the signs up because there wouldn't be anything to hide."

After several e-mails to the superintendent from the student body, Halloran said the principal has set up a meeting with one particular student next week to hear his/her concerns. Dempsey confirmed Monday that he is also interviewing candidates for the girls soccer position. Dan Boyle has served as the program's coach for the last five seasons.

Dave Dempsey was hired as the Triton athletic director July 1, 2007. Three coaches have been replaced in his 10 months on the job.

Photos

Drew Wile, hockey coach Staff photo

Shawn McElligot, football coach Staff photo

Tim Connell, boys basketball coach Staff photo

Kristen Almquist, cheerleading coach Staff photo