Two more Mainland Regional High School coaches are gone, as the fallout from a trip to South Carolina continued.
Coaches Brian Hatz and Walter Kuemmerle “resigned this morning,” Superintendent Mark Marrone told parents Monday during a meeting he said was part of promised transparency in connection with the incident during a team trip to Myrtle Beach.
“We’re sitting here today because adults made bad decisions,” Marrone said, standing before parents with High School Principal Dr. David Jacobs.
The ongoing investigation and personnel issues limited what he could discuss, but Marrone said he would address what he could, noting that when people don’t have the details, they “fill in the blanks themselves."
The narrative so far has been that players were left alone in their hotel one night, as coaches went to an adult venue. Marrone did not detail the outing, but did confirm that those left in charge of the players did not do their duties.
He also stressed that none of the student athletes were involved in any issues, and that it was the adults who were the problem.
“There are concerns about supervision on the trip,” Marrone said. “I agree, so I’m not going to hide from that.”
He also said he would not hide from his own actions, after he admittedly blew up at a volunteer coach who continued to show up after he was told Friday night, “You’re no longer with us.”
Not only did the unpaid coach show up about an hour after receiving notice not to return, he also came to Saturday’s practice, “and then he talked to some of your kids,” Marrone said.
“I lost it a little bit and made sure that coach knew, ‘You’re no longer welcome here and you’re never to be back here,” he said. “And, yes, I grabbed his hat because, in the end, he didn’t earn it, and he’s not one of us.”
When a parent asked if there were pictures posted of the coach to make sure he does not show up to games, Marrone said security had it handled.
Marrone has not publicly named the coach, but BreakingAC has confirmed through several sources was Michael Sciubba. He was one of two unpaid volunteers.
The other volunteer, Frank Curtin, was not on the trip and remains a coach for the team.
Sciubba has denied any involvement in the Myrtle Beach incident, initially telling BreakingAC that he did not have any connection to the baseball team.
The investigation has included interviews and phone calls to hotels, bus drivers, bus companies and unnamed “establishments.”
The focus now is on making sure the players have a good season and proper leadership, he said.
“We have a whole new coaching staff we have put in place,” Marrone said. “They are committed to surrounding your sons with positive influences so that we can move forward.”
Athletic Director Billy Kern — the former baseball coach — will take the reins until a full-time coach is found.
“Mr. Kern is committed to carrying this forward for us,” Marrone said, adding that Kern also has a full plate as AD.
English teacher Matthew McDevitt is taking on the junior varsity program, with the freshman coach — who did not go on the trip — remaining in his position.
Trips will not stop, Marrone said.
“We believe that the majority of people who go on our trips take care of our kids,” he said.
In answer to a parent’s question, Marrone said there would be more clearly stated expectations for those chaperoning trips since it “apparently isn’t common sense.”
One mother said her son had a positive experience with Smith and his staff, insinuating that some did not like how “open and honest” the former coach was with the players.
“At least he was open and honest with somebody,” Marrone said.
“That’s pretty low,” the woman replied.
“No, it’s the truth because I spent a week of my time looking for open and honesty, and I didn’t get it,” the superintendent responded.
Marrone also addressed whispers about possible missing money.
He said that he talked to the bus company and that the bus driver for the trip was tipped $800 from the team.
“Without getting into any details, there is not a monetary issue as to loss of funds from the booster group based on our investigation today,” he added.
“My biggest gripe in all this is, young adults shouldn’t have to cover for adults,” Marrone said. “That’s one heavy weight to put on somebody’s shoulders. I’m disgusted by it because that’s not fair.”
