ClayKallam
08-27-2008, 05:04 PM
Northern California fans are fairly familiar with the situation at Miramonte High School in Orinda -- which in many years would have been contending for the Division III state title (but Sacred Heart Cathedral and St. Mary's of Stockton were serious roadblocks).
Darrell Hirashima has coached the Matadors for 17 years and built the program into one of the best in Northern California, but his athletic director has not been a big fan -- despite Darrell being a good guy, not a yeller and not an emotional manipulator of his players.
The athletic director, Vince dell'Aquila, tried to fire him once before, in 1999 I think, but failed after a public outcry. After a minor incident at a tournament, the Miramonte administration fired him again -- but after a protest, the district hired him back. But then the district pulled the offer off the table, prompting another protest and legal action.
The latest twist is that Miramonte hired a new coach, James Kizziee, whose contract will go before the school board next week, if reports are correct. If that contract is approved, then it would be even more difficult for the district to bring back Hirashima, because it would be a breach of contract, and potentially another law suit.
What's really unfortunate is that all California coaches are vulnerable to the same pressures, since all are at-will employees on one-year contracts. Every so often, there's talk of forming a California Coaches' Association that would represent coaches, and maybe try to upgrade the situation, but nothing has ever come of it.
Could this be that time?
Darrell Hirashima has coached the Matadors for 17 years and built the program into one of the best in Northern California, but his athletic director has not been a big fan -- despite Darrell being a good guy, not a yeller and not an emotional manipulator of his players.
The athletic director, Vince dell'Aquila, tried to fire him once before, in 1999 I think, but failed after a public outcry. After a minor incident at a tournament, the Miramonte administration fired him again -- but after a protest, the district hired him back. But then the district pulled the offer off the table, prompting another protest and legal action.
The latest twist is that Miramonte hired a new coach, James Kizziee, whose contract will go before the school board next week, if reports are correct. If that contract is approved, then it would be even more difficult for the district to bring back Hirashima, because it would be a breach of contract, and potentially another law suit.
What's really unfortunate is that all California coaches are vulnerable to the same pressures, since all are at-will employees on one-year contracts. Every so often, there's talk of forming a California Coaches' Association that would represent coaches, and maybe try to upgrade the situation, but nothing has ever come of it.
Could this be that time?