THE PUBLIC MIND: READER EXPRESSES BITTERNESS OVER DISMISSAL OF CHAFFEE COACH

To the Editor:

As an alumnus of Chaffee High School, I am utterly ashamed of being a product of the Chaffee public school system. This shame is brought about in the wake of the impulsive and inexcusable removal of Kent Mangels as boys varsity basketball coach by the school board.

In firing Mangels, those responsible for his removal have done both Chaffee High School and the community a great injustice. A relative minority of people has succeeded in robbing the school system of a fine coach, an outstanding educator, and a wonderful person. In small schools such as Chaffee, and even in larger institutions, coaching and teaching go hand in hand. Mangels managed to conglomerate both aspects successfully, never putting athletics ahead of academics. Furthermore, he used both coaching and teaching techniques not only on the hardwood but also in the classroom.

It is rather ironic that in a town where there has never been a powerhouse basketball team (minus a few years scattered throughout the school's history), the school board would suddenly put so much emphasis on building a powerhouse team. It is equally sad that in the midst big-time college athletics, where an unsuccessful coach record-wise is fired, high school athletics no longer provide a respite from this out-of-control college monster. High school athletics should simply emphasize sportsmanship, hard work, determination, and competition. The firing of Mangels has overshadowed all of these aspects.

Mangels initially promised nothing and asked only for the community's support. Considering the support that he and his teams received from the community during his five years, Mangels went way above and beyond the call of duty. Those of us who worked with him and were his students duly appreciate all that he did for Chaffee High School. Those of us who continue to support him share in his obvious bitterness and feelings of betrayal and we will remember him for the good he accomplished rather than remembering him for what he did not.

Chris Abernathy

Chaffee