Photos
North Andover High School Football Coach John Rafferty was told last week that he was being let go after 12 years with the Scarlet Knights. And his supporters are not sitting back quietly.
There is now a Support Coach Rafferty Facebook page. The page already has hundreds of "likes" and is assertively pushing for action on behalf of Rafferty. The page even lists the contact information for Athletics Director Jon Longley and Principal Carla Scuzzarella.
"What a bad example to set for the school, student and town," one of the page's status updates reads. "This is what's wrong with society...fire a coach who disciplines players who get in trouble."
School officials have not said why Rafferty was let go, but Rafferty has reportedly said it was because of two incidents in which he disciplined students this past fall.
On Monday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., there will also be a petition set up at Stachey's for people to sign and show their support for Rafferty.
Over Rafferty's 12 years with the team, the Scarlet Knights were 81-49. Rafferty is credited with turning the team around in 2001 after several bad seasons.
Bob Ercolini
8:02 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
If the former coach says he will not appeal the decision and the Principal is either prevented from discussing the matter or does not want to go into the details for any number of reasons ( coach's reputation or behavior of students involved), then why protest? The protest may also hurt the coach's chances of employment elsewhere, brings more attention to the firing and at a minimum require a future employer to ascertain the unstated facts of the reasons for the firing before hiring him. If his firing was simply because he did not follow protocol and the reason(s) he didn't is not egregious, he surely should have been given the opportunity to leave on his own, without all of this notoriety. Too bad Principals can't fire all non performing teachers, with as much ease.
FR
12:18 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Why protest? Probably the same reason why every year you get up a Town Meeting and protest the budget. The only reason you posted this is to take a dig at the teachers.
Ed Lynch
8:36 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
make sure you truley know all the details, history and facts before you start signing petitions or get caught up in the emotional fever of supporting someone fired. The fact that he isnt appealing and no one in an official capacity can talk about it should tell you all that there is more to this story. I would sign a petition to focus and support the new coach..........
Bryan McGonigle2
9:03 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
I can see both sides of this.
As a parent, current player, or former player, you appreciate the job the coach performed for you or your son. It may be hard to believe the coach was fired (and technically I suspect his contract wasn't renewed).
On the other hand, the coach apparently didn't follow procedure on multiple occasions. Not following procedure once is excusable but multiple times is not.
I think the petition people could concentrate maybe on an appreciation celebration (like a Coach Rafferty appreciation night of some sort) that possibly could also serve as a fund raiser for something like the youth football program.
NAfootball
9:33 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
Support is not only for Rafferty but for future hires. No one will want a job where an AD/Principal fire them for disciplining student/athletes who break rules/law. There is also a pattern here with other coaches (Ex. Boys/Girls soccer, Hockey, Lax, Softball, Etc). Not a very good trend that would lead a coach to desire to coach in NA.
https://www.facebook.com/SupportCoachRafferty
Bryan McGonigle2
10:03 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
NAfootball - if there's a serious problem (and I'm not saying there is), you're better off going to the school committee meetings than getting petitions signed.
Ed Lynch
1:01 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
I have to totally agree with MikeA on all his comments!! NAfootball the petition idea is one that is not well thought out as it will not accomplish anything. Take that group and go to a school committee meeting and make your voices heard.......that will make change not some petition. i like the idea of the celebration event too.......give the coach a big send off and thank you........and lastly, his discapline of a few of the players was excessive, uniformed and honestly had no positive impact on kids or school.
NAfootball
3:52 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Petition is going to the school committee followed by the group attending the next school committee meeting
Bill Kelly
8:59 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
The School Committee has no say over the football coach position or any other positions except for the Supt. Folks are able to voice an opinion during public comment at SC meeting but I would be surprised if any comments are made by SC members or the Supt on this issue, It is a personnel matter and privacy laws like it or not have to be followed. But I do understand the outcry just thought I would pass on what to expect.
NAfootball
10:38 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The School Committee is taking this very seriously and is encouraging feedback from the town. They ask all contact go to School Committee, Principal and Superintendent. Your voices are being heard so please don't stop now.
This also isn't just about Rafferty. This is about all the coaches, players and our town. There were also 10+ coaches who coached Frosh-Varsity who are also no longer going to be coaching. Some of them have been coaching at NA for over 20 years.
Emails should go to:
Burzlaff, Laurie <BurzlaffL@northandover.k12.ma.us>
Hutchinson, Kevin <HutchinsonK@northandover.k12.ma.us>
Scuzzarella, Carla <ScuzzarellaC@northandover.k12.ma.us>
https://www.facebook.com/SupportCoachRafferty
David Bonaceto
2:27 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Having 2 sons that played for Coach Rafferty I can attest to his character and demeanor. If some parents object to how their kids were treated they should enroll them in a non-contact sport like figure skating or tennis. Every action has a consequence and if a kid breaks the law there are rules in place that address that.
The bottom line is that he was fired because Longley has someone else in mind that came from Beverly. He should have the balls to say that publically and not hide behind the mistakes of teenagers.