POLL: Should Vince Catanzaro be reinstated?
Catanzaro, who won more than 200 games during his tenure as coach for the Upper Dublin girl's basketball team, was forced to resign two weeks ago.
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The Upper Dublin Patch has learned that a group of Vince Catanzaro supporters will once again attend tonight's meeting of the School Board of Upper Dublin, in the hopes of having the board overturn their previous decision to decline to renew the long-time coach's contract.
During last week's UDSD workshop meeting, a group of family members, basketball players, and parents attempted to convince the board to change their minds and reinstate Catanzaro, but the board stood their ground and declined to take any action to reverse their previous decision.
Though no explanation was given as to why the board declined to renew Catanzaro's contract, a report in the Ambler Gazette references comments made by supporters stating the forced resignation came after a parent complained about Catanzaro yelling at a player.
Tonight's school board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Upper Dublin High School cafeteria, but thanks to our poll, you don't have to wait to express your opinion.
Should Catanzaro be reinstated? Did the school board make the right decision? Vote in our poll, and feel free to add an explanation in the comments section.
Keith Heffintrayer
11:38 am on Monday, May 14, 2012
The following comment was taken from the Upper Dublin Patch Facebook page.
"Jonathan Wapner says:
Hell no. If he wants to act like a tough guy, maybe he should try to get a job coaching college or pros. Apparently, he's not qualified to do so or he's scared of an adult's retaliation. I'm tired of hearing stories about the Bobby Knight wannabes with Napolean complexes. These are children--and not his children."
Apache
1:51 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
First, there is no tough guy act. Vince is a great person who has a lot of knowledge about the game to offer these young adults. It is not fair that you comment about someone who you do not even know and make him out to be some horrible person. By the way, since you have no clue about what you were commenting on, you should know that the story you heard or read is not about a Bob Knight wannabe. Qualified yes. Vince Catanzaro has had many accomplishments while coaching and not just for UD. It is to your lack of research that you should want to compare him to an individual who physically hurt his players and acted out during games throwing chairs onto the court. Coach Cat would never, ever, ever act this way. As one of his long-time players, I can assure you he never physically or verbally abused any of his players. As far as his children, they NEVER felt the pressures that the complaining parents put on their own children today. Rather, Vince always taught his children that with hard work and practice, victory is in hands reach. Hard work and practice is something that he lives by and I know he continues to preach this to his team.
Keith Heffintrayer
12:04 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Here is another comment from the Upper Dublin Patch Facebook page.
"Carla Meyers says:
Yes!! My dad was a baseball coach and always yelled at us. It kept us on our feet!! Ridiculous.. I feel bad for that child, she is going to be in for a rude awakening when she gets into the real world, god forbid someone yells at her. If you can't play then get off the court.."
JH
12:30 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
It's not about having a Bobby Knight complex it's about a coach motivating his team..I am sorry that whispers don't always work..let me guess Mr Wapner you never once raised your voice
JH
12:43 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
I also believe YES he should be reinstated. He is a great coach and mentor. He offers these girls a learning experience like none other. It's sad because of one persons feelings other girls on the team have to suffer from not having a coach like Vince Catanzaro. Also the school will suffer from the loss of money when no one comes out to support the team. Whether or not they are his kids or not is not in question I know he is well aware that they are not his children..which by the way have turned out to be phenominal and successful people due to his up bringing, but I am also certain that he has nothing but the best interest for all these young adults he has coached. High school and your experiences there are to prepare you for the future of being a successful adult and I believe that is what Vincent Catanzaro as a coach installs in these young adults..the feeling of success and the desire to be more successful then what they already are..so again YES HE SHOULD BE REINSTATED
Marla
12:48 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
How long have you been following the girls team?
Marla
12:56 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Its been a few years since i was following the girls basketball team but i remember back in the early years there were allegations of his poor communication skills and abusive language. I know he was supposedly talked to about it and I heard things changed. But did they?
Apache
2:27 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
I have been following the girls basketball team for a long time and I had the privilege to play for Vince Catanzaro. It seems that your "few" years may be more than you think (like you are thinking of another coach). As a player, I was never subjected to abusive language as you mentioned above. In addition, Vince was always clear and concise when communicating with players, other staff, and parents. As a UD girls basketball fan and community member, I never heard of such allegations. Therefore, there was no reason for Vince to have been counseled. Vince has been coaching the same way for over twenty years now. You get a couple parents to use politics as a way to maneuver through the system due to their "stars" not being star material--the result is an open coaching position. Those parents will not have to worry about their kids having playing time, because they made "star" status by having one of the best coaches at UD dismissed. Listen up JM, that kind of status will not get your kid a scholarship.
Joshua Waters
1:06 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Its seems like the information about how they made this decision is being kept in house.
I wonder why, unless the board does not want the public to know the details.
If it because there are a number of issues and the board does not want to say anything bad about Vince or is it that they don't have enough information.
Just wondering.
AB
5:58 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Josh,
The real story is that a few parents of players of the team were upset that their daughter's were not getting the playing time they wanted. The father's lobbied for more playing time because they "wanted their girls to get college scholarships". As it happens, the father's had pull with the school board members and made an example of Vince's loud tendencies. As far as harassment, that's insane. I've been coached by him myself and he yells to fire up and inspire his players. Pretty unsettling that a three or four people can influence your school board, especially when it's clear that the overwhelming majority is in favor of reinstating Vince.
madMAX
4:13 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Every high school sports coach will have an upset parent complain about them, the school would not fire a coach over a single complaint form a parent. There could have been many reasons and complaints developing over years that caused the school to not renew his contract.... is it possible the school is doing him a favor by not releasing the exact reasons they had, because they want him to be able to pursue other coaching opportunities in the future?
AB
4:20 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
having been coached by vince myself, i can tell you first hand what a great coach and person he is. he's taught me so much about no only basketball, but life. if you think when these kids enter the real world, they can simply get their daddy to remove whomever stands in the way of them getting the position they want, you're sadly mistaken. vince stood for hardwork and he worked to develop each and every one of his players, which is more than can be said for other suburban one coaches. if he's forced to resign due to raising his voice, maybe they should take a look at other girl's basketball coaches. the naysayers will come running back to vince. regardless, anyone should consider themselves lucky to have a coach like vince. his knowledge and passion for the sport go unmatched.
JO
5:47 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
I don't think I could have said it better myself, as Vincent Catanzaro's niece and former player for years
Andrew Pileggi
4:55 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Growing up I had a lot of coaches yell at me. It's not because they were trying to punish me
For something it's beause they were motivating me
And looking back I thank them for that. When your doing something physical like playing basketball you need some one emotional and loud ad willing to get in your face to push you to achieve things you wouldn't be able to archive yourself. I think he should absolutely be reinstated as head coach he is the perfect man for the position and i would let him coach my daughters any day of the week.
Jacqueline Allerton
12:16 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
YES, vincwnt should be reinstated!
Apache
2:29 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
REINSTATE VINCE CATANZARO!
Jenny Hobbs
10:03 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Jenny Hobbs
I played for Vince for years and he was the best coach I have ever had in any sport period. To play for him was to play your heart out and enjoy every minute of it. He is on the girls' side. He lives to motivate and inspire the team. There is no one else like him. I wish the parents could take a step back and see what an amazing legacy they are breaking by doing this. They should be proud to sit on the bench next to him, whether they get time on the court or not. They are part of something very special. If scholarships are the issue, hit the books, don't fire the winningest coach. It won't do the girls any favors to buy them playing time. They should be earning it. This cowardly ousting is embarrassing and the Board should be ashamed of themselves.
Tonya
10:59 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
I vote yes!!! Give this dedicated coach his job back! Listen to the people.
Katelyn Comfort Johnson
7:02 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
If you really knew Coach Cat the answer is simple. He is a remarkable coach!!! I loved being a part of his team. He is honest, fair, hard working, motivating and an all around good guy. It's sad how parents and board member could remove such a great coach.