A routine monthly meeting June 20 of Jefferson High School’s Board dissolved into accusations of bad faith and poor communications, as trustees and school administrators wrangled over a seemingly straightforward coaching position.
The clash began when Head Girls Basketball Coach Aubrey McMaster voiced concerns about vacancies on her coaching staff.
McMaster, 21, was hired by the school on May 16 to lead the girls’ basketball program following Sarah Layng’s resignation from the position.
Shortly after accepting the job, McMaster began preparing for the summer season, when high school teams practice four days a week and play dozens of games in preparation for winter competition. But she needed one thing to get there: help.
To ease McMaster’s transition into the head coaching position, the board and administrators started looking for assistant coaches.
And so the controversy began.
Administrators suggested Brian Bullock, an assistant coach for the boys’ team, as a potential candidate. By the June 20 meeting, there was confusion amongst McMaster, the board members and school administrators – namely superintendent Erik Wilkerson and principal Mike Moodry – as to whether Bullock had been hired.
More so, McMaster was under the impression that Bullock was not interested in coaching both the boys’ and girls’ teams, especially since he had not assisted with any summer practices or tournaments.
Indeed, at the board meeting, Wilkerson confirmed that Bullock had informed him that he would be unable to assist with the summer program.
During the board’s June 20 discussion on new hires McMaster’s mother Mandy questioned why her application for the assistant coach position had been disregarded.
“I am qualified for the job. I could understand if I wasn’t, but I am,” Mandy McMaster told the board, adding that she’d like to be considered a serious candidate.
Moodry explained that the McMasters’ relationship raised concerns about nepotism.
School board members Jenny Genger and Dani Morris also expressed discontent with the remaining open positions on the girls’ basketball coaching staff.
“I just think to have more hands is better than none,” School board member Jenny Genger said, adding that there are too many girls in the program for just one person. “I want to see this being supported from day one … and I don’t think we’re doing that as a board.”
McMaster also told those in attendance of the meeting that players claim that the administration cares more about the boys’ team than the girls’ team.
Morris pointed out that parents of kids in the program were blaming the board for the situation, adding that “communication has been nowhere to be found” and going so far as to say that she wished she wasn’t on the board.
“This is not the board’s fault at all,” Wilkerson said, adding that he’d be happy to interview the other two applicants and bring a recommendation to the board.
“Sitting in the stands, it’s pretty tough to hear,” Morris said, explaining that her kids feel the repercussions of the board’s decisions.
Genger suggested that the board approve a volunteer coach to assist McMaster until a permanent assistant coach could be hired.
Moodry suggested that the administration seek out people already on staff to assist with the program, saying that there was resistance coming from “people in the athletic department,” including McMaster in terms of hiring another assistant coach.
“That’s the problem, the head coach doesn’t want ‘just anyone’ in the gym,” Moodry said.
McMaster responded that she wasn’t interested in having “some old man uncomfortable touching [a player’s back] when she needs tape.”
Moodry said he would hire an assistant coach by Nov. 16, when the basketball season is scheduled to begin.
Genger and Morris continued pushing for the approval of a volunteer coach, at which fellow school board member Buster Bullock motioned that Mandy McMaster be approved.
Following the motion, school board member Larry Rasch questioned whether nepotism came into play in this situation, prompting Bullock to rescind his motion.
“The plan is that the school board will get back to you,” Bullock told Aubrey McMaster. “We’ve got some rules we’ve got to follow.”
