Two Chicago Public Schools basketball coaches accused of paddling athletes say they were not given a warning before losing their jobs.
Two Chicago Public Schools basketball coaches accused of paddling athletes say they were not given a warning before losing their jobs.
Courtney Hargrays, of Marshall high school, who was dismissed along with Morgan Park high school coach Mandel Oliver, said he is outraged with the lack of professionalism shown by Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan for going public without informing the coaches first.
“I was fired and wasn’t notified at all by Mr. Duncan,” Hargrays said. “He just fired me through the media.”
Hargrays is “very disappointed” that Duncan fired him by word of mouth. Hargrays was also disgusted at the fact that Duncan put the coach’s name in the media.
The Marshall head coach made his statements at the first board meeting held since Duncan was nominated by President-elect Barack Obama to be the next education secretary.
Oliver could not be reached for comment by Defender press time.
“I believe that Courtney didn’t do anything wrong,” said Marshall athletic director and girls basketball coach Dorothy Gators. “He has done a terrific job with these young men. In one year, he was able to turn this team around and take these young men to a state championship and win it all."
Gators, who is the winningest coach in Illinois high school basketball history, was also disappointed in the way Hargrays was fired.
“Him losing his job was a bit severe,” said Gators. “He should have been suspended, not fired.”
Gators went on to praise Hargrays for his immediate success as a coach and his passion as a former player at Marshall, where he played alongside Hoop Dreams documentary star Arthur Agee.
Earlean Green, Marshall’s local school council president, said morale has sunk since Hargrays, who won a state title in his first year, was removed from his coaching duties.
“I really felt I’ve been set up by someone who is jealous of my success with the team,” Hargrays said. “My own family has strong support for me. I got the support of the community and local alderman. Who can it be?” he questioned.
Although Hargrays felt his name was smeared in the media by Duncan, he continues to spend his time and efforts within the community, where he is currently training the boys and girls of the Gladys Park District in basketball drills, team conditioning and conflict resolution.
“This is the park I grew up playing basketball in,” he said. “On Sundays, I choose to spend my time with the kids.”
Hargrays said he misses his ball players and the conditioning program. He explained how he would have his former players run the stairs, hallways, jump rope, run track, do wind sprints and run around the school plus the neighborhoods.
Using these drills helped him to shape and mold the minds of the young men he used to coach.
“I believe it takes two villages to raise a child,” said Hargrays about his love for his former players. “Nowadays things have changed.”
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