Sports World
Longtime Woods Cross coach Kevin Rigby fired BY SCOTT SCHULTE Clipper Sports Editor
WOODS CROSS — Blindsided. That’s how long-time Woods Cross High soccer coach Kevin Rigby described his being fired as head coach of the Wildcat girls soccer program. “I’m still sort of in shock,” Rigby said. “I didn’t see this coming.” According to Rigby, he was asked by Woods Cross Principal Vickie Ingram to resign as head girls coach. When Rigby refused to resign, he was fired. “From what I understand there was a group of parents unhappy about some things, and they took their complaints to Mrs. Ingram and I was then called in and asked to resign.” Ingram declined to go into details, but said,“We felt it was time for a change.” Ingram added, “I think sometimes a program can be great but there still needs to be a change. “Now was a time for such a change.” As for whether there was pressure from any outside sources or the rumors of
parental influence, Ingram offered no comment and called the decision “a personnel matter.” Rigby isn’t buying it. “We had a group of girls and parents who were concerned over playing time, and I believe they went to Mrs. Ingram and complained about certain things. “No one has been willing to tell me exactly what those complaints were,” Rigby said. Rigby believes a large part of the problem had to deal with him and assistant coach Sean Simons, who Rigby said “tells people how it is and refuses to sugarcoat things. Sean is honest, and a lot of people don’t like honesty. “Sean refused to lie to people, and he didn’t tell people things unless he felt he was being honest.” Rigby said he was told he and his staff “emotionally beat up” the team. Said Rigby, “I don’t think being honest and holding athletes accountable is being emotionally abusive.” Simons sees the whole thing as ridiculous. “I think firing Kevin because a few parents aren’t happy with their kids playing
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time is ridiculous,” Simons said. “Everyone knows Kevin hasn't done anything wrong, and that includes standing by his assistant coaches. “If one of Kevin's assistants had done anything wrong, Kevin would be the first one to take action. “If I had said or done anything inappropriate, Kevin would have taken care of it immediately, up to and including firing me. “Everybody who knows Kevin understands the kind of person he is, so to doubt that he is anything but a great man is idiotic, and to not support him is shameful.” Rigby’s record as the head girls coach is impressive. Over the past 10 years, Rigby-led girls teams from Woods Cross have qualified for the state tournament every year, winning one title, finishing second once. “I know there are people out there who support me, and I appreciate them,” Rigby said. Rigby has been asked to remain on as head coach for the boys program at Woods Cross. “I haven’t made that decision yet,” Rigby said.
Hailee Henson
Davis Clipper • December 3, 2009
IN SPITE of happy days during the 2009 soccer season, Woods Cross coach Kevin Rigby has been fired. Rigby said he was blindsided by the firing after years of success.
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