<p>Two girls lacrosse coaches at the regional high school were abruptly suspended this week for a team incident at practice that remains mostly under wraps.</p>
Two girls lacrosse coaches at the regional high school were abruptly suspended this week for a team incident at practice that remains mostly under wraps.
Head coaches Kursten Moore and Bob Hayman were suspended on Tuesday for the remainder of the school year, high school athletic director Mark McCarthy said.
The suspensions came just days before the team, which has a winning record, was due to begin post-season play.
Mr. McCarthy said the suspension followed a week-and-a-half-long investigation into an incident that involves a violation of the school attendance policy for sports teams at practices.
“We investigated and discovered they did not follow protocol. We found it necessary to relieve them of their duties,” he said, speaking of the head coaches. “If a student doesn’t attend school or comes to school after a certain time, that player is not allowed to practice.”
He would not elaborate further, citing personnel and privacy rules for school employees.
“It’s very complex,” Mr. McCarthy said of the incident. “It involves multiple pieces and I can’t go into details. But it’s not as cut-and-dried as one incident.”
He could not confirm the date of the incident.
The attendance policy for sports teams is a school rule but also falls under the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, Mr. McCarthy said. “All policies and procedures of the school, they become part of the MIAA,” he explained. “They give minimum standards that we can use or make stricter.” Mr. McCarthy emphasized that the suspensions are in effect through the end of the school year. After that the situation will be evaluated, he said. All coaching positions at the high school are structured as yearly appointments, he also said.
Mr. McCarthy said junior varsity coaches Jenny Hart and Jo Douglas would take over as head coaches.
He said no players will be suspended, no laws were broken and no further action is anticipated.
Mr. McCarthy said both coaches were notified on Tuesday.
“Coach Moore was notified this afternoon via email,” he said. “She is in the hospital having a baby, and I didn’t want her finding out from the papers. I sent her a message saying congratulations and notifying her that she had been suspended. Coach Bob Hayman was notified in person this morning.”
He acknowledged the unfortunate timing all around.
“I wish it didn’t come to this,” he said. “But we are focused on the girls and moving forward.”
Julia Wells contributed reporting.

Comments
Wow, following famously in
Albie Scott NewburyportWow, following famously in Newt Gingrich's footsteps.
"Congratulations, and by the way, you're suspended".
Very classy.
Please. The public outcry
Local MVYPlease. The public outcry over following protocol for the violated school policy would have only been worse had she been notified and having a baby NOT been recognized. Can’t win with people like you.
Obviously, the Gazette has
Resident EdgartownObviously, the Gazette has not gotten the whole story!! Better do some more investigating and be HONEST. There is deep hypocrisy going on...protecting girls who need not be protected because of their behavior. And, what a sad commentary on the high school and their absolute and egregious disregard for the truth!
Yes, if it's true that some
High school mom VHYes, if it's true that some of these same girls were involved in the field hockey hazing too, then it is a sad commentary to teach a life lesson that if you are a star athlete then the adults around you will take the fall. Parents need to make their children take responsibility for their behavior and kudos to those athletes that make good decisions without any recognition.
I couldn't agree more. And
High School Mom EdgartownI couldn't agree more. And thanks for the shout outs to the vast majority of student athletes that make good decisions on a daily basis without any recognition and the students who make mistakes and accept responsibility and the consequences for them. Those are the students with integrity and those are the students sitting in the seats on the floor of the Tabernacle on Sunday that I will be cheering for and congratulating.
What did I miss?
Islander TooWhat did I miss?
Why were these coaches suspended?
Which rules weren't followed?
I doubt we'll ever know the
Peter Cole Oak BluffsI doubt we'll ever know the "whole" story
Mr. McCarthy must it come to
Les Beanz W.TisburyMr. McCarthy must it come to this? Sounds like bullying to me. Thank you Gazette for the update!
It’s too bad that these
Chip Coblyn OBIt’s too bad that these incidents are allowed to be publicized, even while shrouded in secrecy. We’ve seen this at the hospital and with various police departments. I wish full disclosure was the operating principle instead of drip, drip, drip. That absence of transparency always impugns the character of those involved and often quite unfairly. As for what’s been leaked; how do coaches know which student athletes have skipped school? Is there a daily report they’re supposed to check? Is this an oversight or an egregious violation of policy? Will we ever find out the truth? And finally, to whoever decided to fire the head coach while she was having one of the most joyous and deeply vulnerable days of her life—on a human level, that was a far worse decision than any that caused the firing in the first place.
This is the gratitude that
Andrew Moore Oak BluffsThis is the gratitude that the High School althletic department has bestowed upon to two wonderful, dedicated, volunteer couches who have brought the women's lacrosse team into the 20th century. It would be ridiculous if this were the result of some silly senior skip day issue, a school tradition nationwide. I hope there is a big fan turnout for this awesome team in their run in the Post season...... Go Vineyard!!!!
Add new comment