Published: April 16, 2016
GIRLS BASKETBALL
East coach resigns, cites health concern
Suns go 9-13 in Graf’s lone season
Daily News
Growing health concerns have forced Travis Graf off the sideline for the West Bend East girls basketball program.
Graf revealed his intent to resign during a meeting with East Athletic
Director Shane Hansen and West Bend high schools Assistant Principal
Ryan Tomczyk.
Graf’s
vacancy was posted on the West Bend School District’s website
Wednesday. On Friday, Graf revealed his reason for resigning.
Graf denied any allegation that he was forced to resign by any school administrator or parent.
“It turned out to be more serious than I thought,” he told the Daily News, declining to go into specifics about his health.
However, he said the problem was likely keep him away from coaching until at least August at the urging of his doctor.
With that in mind, knowing the Suns were going into the offseason on the heels of seven seniors graduating in June, Graf didn’t believe it was “fair for the program” for him to take time away in a crucial offseason.
“I didn’t feel good for the program,” Graf said. “I decided to step aside and let someone step in.”
Graf coached one season at East, leading the Suns to a 9-13 record — one season
after the program went 3-20.
“I think he did a nice job,” Hansen said. “Travis is a nice person.
He’s easy to get along with. He came in and tried to coach the
basketball team. I think he did a good job, did the best he could.”
Graf’s hiring came with apprehension by parents and supporters of the
Suns’ program after the previous coach — Don Gruber — was fired.
Gruber’s firing started a hurricane of bad publicity, which included
the temporary suspension of several athletes’ eligibility. Parents also
sent a letter to administration about their distaste of Graf as coach.
On July 27, six groups of parents sent a letter to West Bend School
District Superintendent Ted Neitzke demanding answers over the
district’s decision to hire Graf.
“The student-athletes believe their progress has been stunted by a
coach with limited playing experience, lack of coaching expertise and a
general detachment to the school and community,” the letter said.
The letter also questioned why Ron Larson wasn’t hired.
“Why would (West Bend high schools) Principal (Bill) Greymont, an
advocate for student-athletes, compare the two resumes of Graf and
Larson and deem Graf more qualified merely by the fact he has ’head
coach’ listed on his resume and has a teacher’s license?” it said. “Five
years as a head JV boys coach at a large high school greatly outweighs
one year at a high school of 53 students.”
Greymont stood behind Graf, even if parents didn’t, and Graf reiterated the administration’s support Friday.
“The administration was repeatedly very supportive,” he said.
“I don’t have any regrets,” Graf added. “The only regret I have is I
won’t be able to continue it. I think there’s potential for this program
to be pretty good going forward. I did the best I could under the
circumstances.”
Graf
said there was only one parent — whom he declined to name — who had a
problem with him. He added several parents hoped he would continue as
the coach. It was his intent to do so, but he couldn’t with his
condition.
“I hope when
they hire a new coach, I hope the people can move on,” Graf said,
adding he hopes the coach has more support when he or she arrives.
During Monday’s meeting with Hansen and Tomczyk, Graf said they talked
at length about the season and the surrounding distraction that loomed
over the program ever since Gruber was fired 13 months ago.
“I hope I got them through the absurd drama that was going on when I
got in,” Graf said. “Hopefully I got them through that with a little
grace and the next coach won’t have to go through it.”
Graf thanked his coaching staff for their work, including Eric Katz,
who filled in for some games as Graf battled his health issue. Graf
hopes Katz is considered to replace him.
“He’s a great coach,” Graf said.
Tomczyk will take the lead on the hiring process as Hansen and Greymont are each resigning at the end of the school year.
“Last time we went through this, we had a very good candidate pool,”
said Tomczyk, who was on the hiring panel as a coach representative
because he was the East boys varsity basketball coach at that time. “I’m
excited to see what this next process will bring. We want to get the
right candidate for West Bend.”
Tomczyk said steps are being taken to get the girls through the summer
offseason programs, such as tournaments and practices. He said the
team is signed up for some summer tournaments.
When asked if the hire is a make-orbreak decision for the future of
the program, Tomczyk said all coach hirings are important.
“It’s a priority because it’s somebody’s senior year, their last
opportunity to enjoy high school athletics,” Tomczyk said. “As long as
I’ve been in the West Bend School District, there hasn’t been a priority
that wasn’t a major priority. They all carry extreme amount of weight.
“The girls need some stability and hopefully this next person will be able to do that.”
❑
Doornek wants to remain East boys coach
A letter was sent by Hansen on Thursday to parents of players in the
East boys basketball program addressing the situation with Kevin
Doornek.
Doornek was
appointed as an interim coach before last season after Tomczyk accepted
an assistant principal position at the high schools.
East went 5-19 with Doornek as the coach.
Doornek said Friday he will apply for the job on full-time basis.
In the letter, Hansen writes, “We would like to sincerely thank coach
Doornek for taking on that challenge late in the game, and for his
leadership and dedication to the program. His willingness to step up
and help is greatly appreciated.”
Doornek said Hansen plans to nominate him for the job.
Reach sports editor Nicholas Dettmann at ndettmann@conleynet.com.
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