By most accounts, Granger High football coach Ray Groth was good at his job. He put the Lancers on the football map, despite a small student body for a 5A school and limited resources. He even took them to the state semifinals two years ago.
When informed a few weeks ago that he wouldn't be retained as a coach, Groth was shocked. But no more than Granger football fans, many of whom had an obvious reaction: Why?
By the time the news became public, the Granite School District and Granger High were circling the wagons, allowing only that an investigation had been launched concerning "allegations."
In other words, they were sure they needed to fire the coach but not make it public. The standard explanation is they want to spare the coach, his family and the school undue embarrassment.
But by refusing to explain why he was relieved — for whatever reason — or even announce the decision publicly, school officials are actually aggravating the situation. Did he alter grades? Recruit players from outside school boundaries? Strike a player? Sexually harass a student? Commit or cover up a crime?
This isn't implying he did any of the above. But those are possibilities that always come to mind whenever a winning coach is abruptly dismissed.
Nothing is more embarrassing than rumors.
By "protecting" a coach, school and district officials have only made the matter worse. Whenever there's a lack of information, there are all sorts of possibilities to speculate about — most of them worse than the truth.
High schools operate in a relatively closed environment. Teachers are fired every year for one reason or another. However, because teachers aren't widely known, that isn't usually material for the newspapers, unless it involves some gross violation, such as physical or sexual misconduct with a student.
But firing coaches is a different matter. High school coaches, especially at large schools, with successful records, are public figures. Their names are in the newspapers, often more than once a week. They attract large followings and extend a wide circle of influence. They don't just disappear without anyone wondering what happened.
When a prep coach is hired, there is usually a news release, announcing the reasons. But once fired, nothing. Not a word. School officials are expecting, perhaps, that those who have been following a team closely — or have children playing for that coach — will simply shrug and say, "Well, he was a good coach. What's for dinner?"
In other forums, firing coaches isn't so secret. When a football or basketball coach at the college level is fired, there is often a news conference involved. Although the colleges aren't always forthcoming about their reasons, there is at least a public announcement when a change is made. Not so in Groth's case. He was let go several weeks ago, but no word came to the news media from the district or school. Maybe they thought nobody would notice.
The word reached reporters via the usual gossip lines.
Although the district is still conducting an investigation, Groth has already been dismissed as the coach. If they already have enough evidence to relieve him, why do an investigation? If the evidence isn't all in, why make a change so quickly?
When it is completed, the district would do well to announce the findings. That way Groth can get on with his career and Granger football fans can decide for themselves whether the alleged violations warranted changing coaches. At least Groth won't be the subject of rumors any more.
Every school has the right to reprimand or change coaches. But it also has an obligation to be upfront with the public about its dealings, particularly when it involves a public figure.
Granger High and the Granite School District aren't doing Groth any favors by keeping quiet about the coaching change. Instead, they're being unfair by leaving things up to the imagination.
Changing coaches is part of the business. But keeping such matters in the dark helps none of the parties involved. It only serves to keep the conjecture alive.