At the extreme, it's possible for someone who has never coached at any level -- from high school all the way down to the town rec department summer program -- to land a varsity job if no other teacher applies. That's brutally unfair to the neighborhood shop owner or insurance agent who's been an assistant coach -- paid or otherwise -- for the last 10 years because no one else wanted to step in and help.
The top job opens up, but the assistant can be frozen out because someone who has never lifted a finger to help the program suddenly submits an application. That's a recipe for a bad outcome, and there's little that the athletic director or the players can do about it.
That's admittedly an extreme example, but it's also not out of the question. That's why a retiring teacher should be allowed to stay on as a coach for a transitional period of maybe up to two seasons. As Allen points out, it certainly beats the alternative -- having a respected coach show up on a rival school's sideline the following year.
Better yet, school boards need to consider adjusting the process. What would be wrong with negotiating future union contracts so that teachers were only assured of preferential treatment one rung at a time -- the freshman coach can move up to JVs if that spot is vacated or the JV coach can move up to the varsity?
Extra points: Syracuse CBA has a 15-0 record as of this morning, but the Brothers are going to need a great effort in order to come out of the week unbeaten in boys lacrosse. CBA's schedule this week shows games against Onondaga (12-4), LaFayette (11-3) and Tully (11-4), which happen to be ranked 13th, 11th and 10th, respectively, in Class C by the NYSSWA. CBA is ranked No. 2.
