Eastport South Manor community divided as parents, alumni and students debate coach conduct

At the July 9 meeting of the Eastport South Manor Central School District Board of Education, more than a dozen residents testified during the public comment period about allegations of bullying and mistreatment by a long‑time girls‑sports coach, while other speakers urged the board to preserve the coach’s position because of a decades‑long record of competitive success and student outcomes.

Peter McGuire, a parent of a current ESM High School student, said the board had made a “courageous decision to remove the lacrosse coaching staff” and urged the board to protect student athletes. “Coaches are educators and should be held to the same standards as teachers,” McGuire said, recounting complaints that included mocking students with IEPs, excluding players from team activities and berating athletes.

Other speakers described different experiences. Ron Massara, a longtime Manorville resident and parent, praised the program’s history and provided statistics he said demonstrated the program’s success: “Thirteen US Lacrosse All‑Americans in the past 15 years, two state championships, seven Suffolk County championships,” Massara said. He also credited coaches with helping students secure college roster spots and scholarships.

Alumni and former athletes who supported the coach said she pushed players to reach high standards and opened doors to collegiate and international opportunities. Kelsey Huff, an ESM graduate who played at the collegiate and national level, described the coach as “more than a coach — a mentor” who helped her become a team captain and an All‑American. Hope Stewart, another alumna, urged the board to consider the coach’s legacy: “If you remove her, those opportunities for young women disappear,” Stewart said.

Several current and recent players, speaking as a group, told the board the coach created a competitive culture that bonded the team and prepared them for high‑pressure play. A student who spoke for the girls’ soccer team asked the board to “please reconsider” and allow the coach to return for the upcoming season.

Other commenters described personal experiences of alleged mistreatment. Kate Smith, a 2023 graduate, said she had been a victim of bullying by a soccer coach and described leaving the sport as a result. Bridal McGuire, another recent graduate, testified that coaches used intimidation and publicly belittled athletes, saying she had been singled out during drills and left in tears. Those accounts included allegations that complaints to school athletic administrators did not produce a remedy.

Speakers on both sides mentioned the broader effects on students: college recruitment, scholarship opportunities, mental health and a program’s reputation in a region where lacrosse is highly competitive. Several supporters noted the program’s history of producing collegiate athletes and nationally recognized players, while critics said past success did not excuse alleged abusive behavior.

The transcript of the meeting records the public comments but does not show a board vote, public hearing or final personnel action on the coach during the open meeting portion. After public comment the board proceeded to policy business and later moved to executive session; no additional public personnel actions or votes about coaching employment were recorded in the public portion of the meeting.

The exchange underscored a sharply divided community: parents, alumni and current players urged both accountability for alleged misconduct and preservation of a high‑performing program. The board did not announce a public timetable for any further action during the meeting.