Parents and coaches urge Hazel Park board to reconsider coaching hires; say social-media disputes and personnel decisions are harming programs

Parents, assistant coaches and program volunteers used public comment at the Hazel Park Board of Education meeting Jan. 27 to urge the board and district administrators to reconsider recent coaching decisions and to address what they described as destructive social-media activity and adult conflicts harming students.

Don McGinnis, who identified himself as a wrestling coach and longtime volunteer, told the board that he has considered leaving the city and pulling his children from district activities because “everything that I keep bringing up ... keeps getting swept under the rug.” He and other speakers said adult disputes—often played out on social media—are creating a hostile environment for athletes and volunteers.

Caitlin McGinnis, who said she attended a meeting with district staff members about a specific candidate for the junior-high wrestling-coach position, told the board the district had previously assured parents that that person would not be hired. McGinnis said the promise was rescinded and that the hire will harm the feeder program for the high-school team by discouraging junior-high participation.

Other speakers echoed those concerns. CJ Goff, the varsity boys basketball coach, praised teams and facilities but said “the adults are starting to ruin it,” describing bickering among adults that he said is driving away coaches and athletes. Kim Allen and Rebecca Ellis, both parents who spoke, said they do not believe a particular incoming coach is the right fit and urged more vetting and safeguards, including limits on social-media exposure by coaches’ spouses or family members.

Several public speakers described specific classroom and coaching behavior they said contributed to distrust. One parent said the junior-high coach has used dark rooms with LED lights and music during coed practices and that some comments made to parents were inappropriate; another described success under the current junior-high coach and urged continuity to preserve the feeder system.

Why it matters: Parents and coaches said the controversy threatens participation in youth sports programs and the continuity of coaching pipelines that feed the high-school teams. Speakers said decisions about coaches have ripple effects on program health, youth participation and morale.

District response and board action: The board heard the comments during the public-comment period. Board members later moved and approved a motion placing Superintendent Croupy on paid administrative leave pending an investigation; the leave and the board’s directive to contact Oakland Schools for an interim superintendent were voted during the meeting. No formal vote on the specific coaching hires was recorded in open session during the Jan. 27 meeting.

Community requests and proposed changes raised at the meeting included: conducting full vetting and background checks for coaching candidates, ensuring parents and board members receive clear documentation about hiring decisions, requiring confidentiality or non-disparagement agreements for coaches and their immediate household members where appropriate, and limiting public dissemination of personnel details that could harm student safety.

Speakers and testimony: Speakers at the meeting included parents and coaches who described recent incidents and urged the board to prioritize student experience over adult disputes. Multiple speakers requested clearer communication from administrators and expressed frustration with perceived broken promises.

What the board did not do: The board did not vote on any specific coaching hires at the Jan. 27 meeting. Personnel appointments presented during the consent agenda were discussed separately; board members in public comment asked for assurance that hiring practices (resumes and contracts) be provided in committee review when necessary.

Next steps: Community speakers asked the board to ensure transparent hiring processes, consistent communication with parents, and protections to keep youth programs focused on student development. The board lso approved the administrative leave measure and an outreach to Oakland Schools for interim leadership, actions that community members said they hoped would lead to clearer oversight and resolution.