New Policy Means Coaches Can't be Their Own Supervisors

The Board of Education approved a new policy Thursday prohibiting administrators and supervisors from coaching sports teams or acting as advisors of any district athletic, co-curricular, or extra-curricular program.

The Board after nine football players, including 18-year-old star wide receiver Andrew Monaghan, were .

Parents and residents had criticized Hills football coach Chris Olsen for not suspending the players for the team’s first two state playoff games; Olsen is also the school’s athletic director.

Olsen is not the only supervisor this policy affects.

Athletic Director Dan Kilday coaches the boys’ varsity soccer team at Valley. He and Olsen will not be allowed to coach their teams and be the athletic directors of their respective institutions after July 1. They will have to choose in which capacity they want to remain at the district.

The policy also prohibits individuals from being an assistant coach or assistant advisor.

The policy states that “any situation requiring decisions as to action taken in extenuating circumstances as it pertains to an athletic team, co-curricular, or extra-curricular club are made by a member of the school district’s administrative or supervisory staff. As such, a member of the district’s administrative or supervisory staff cannot serve as his/her own supervisor.”

Superintendent Ray Gonzalez said that the policy was enacted to “address potential conflicts that may arise when staff members who serve in administrative roles assume coaching and/or advisory responsibilities.”

District officials said that the policy was not enacted because of any one person.

“It’s not about one person or another, it is to resolve the conflict of interest that you’re reporting to yourself,” said Board trustee Robyn Kingston, “especially when you’re coaching and being an athletic director.

“We’re simply showing that we’re following through with the commitment that we made to the district.”

Board President Donald Pavlak Jr. could not be reached for comment.

Kingston also said that enacting the policy will not cost the district more money since advisors and coaches are already paid for their roles in extracurricular activities, in addition to their regular salaries.

Olsen and Kilday did not return phone calls seeking comment.