Leading off today: Coaches coming. Coaches going (and not by their own volition). Coaches on hold.
I see a theme developing to lead off today's edition of the New York State Sportswriters Association blog.
Section 2 dust-up: Troy softball coach George Rafferty will not be with the team Friday for a Section 2 Class A quarterfinal game against Catholic Central, The Times Union reported.
The fifth-year coach, who directed the Flying Horses to sectional championships in 2013 and '14, was removed as coach following his actions during the conclusion of Friday's Suburban Council game against Averill Park, the paper reported. Rafferty was upset by a call that went against Troy in the seventh inning of an 8-6 loss and reportedly twice bumped an umpire. Sources told the paper say Rafferty also used profanities while berating the umpire.
"I believe it was a rush to judgement," Rafferty said in a text message to the paper. "I was never given an opportunity or a hearing to tell my side of the story. I also do not believe that an AD from a rival school should be allowed to write a letter which helped to decide my fate."
Calls to Troy AD Paul Reinisch were not returned.
Change on Staten Island: Rich Buckheit, a stellar 183-58 in eight seasons, is no longer the boys basketball coach at Curtis High in the PSAL, The Advance reported.
Curtis AD Eric Ritzer and the New York City Department of Education said Buckheit will be replaced by Dwayne Archbold, who served as Buckheit's JV coach but announced after last season he was stepping down.
All coaching positions are considered year-to-year, and Buckheit was tripped up by the fact that he is not a teacher at the school. Under the contract negotiated with the teachers union, Archbold (a physical education instructor at Curtis) had to be given preference over his fellow alum.
"Dwayne retired from the JV because he was ready to make a move to a varsity coaching position and that's what he chose to do," said Ritzer, who was effusive in his praise of Buckheit.
Archbold said he understands why Buckheit would be upset at the developments but he was also unapologetic.
"Of course I understand, 100 percent. With the success he's had, who'd want to leave the position," he told the paper. "But the job was posted and the opportunity that wasn't presented before was there. I was interested and since I am a certified teacher, I decided to go for it."
Change in Section 3: Skaneateles girls basketball coach Jill Blasi, 69-33 in five seasons, is being replaced, Syracuse.com reported.
"I was let go for literally no reason," Blasi said. "My girls were really upset. The parents were really upset."
Superintendent Ken Slentz said coaches are evaluated on an annual basis and the best candidates are recommended. He declined to comment directly on Blasi's situation.
"I'm mad. I'm crushed. It's disheartening," said Blasi, who previously coached six years at Bishop Ludden, and spent one season on Sue Ludwig's staff at Westhill.
Blasi's replacement is likely to be one of Section 3's all-time best players, as former Syracuse Corcoran star Camille Murphy has been recommended to the school board for improvement.
Murphy, 35, who took Corcoran to a 1998 NYSPHSAA championship as a point guard and played at the
