Coach Duff deserved time to keep growing program

I would like to commend Sean Duff on the many years he devoted to the Whitefish community basketball programs: the little dribbles program, taking kids to summer camps the open gym on Saturdays, weeknight and holidays, the supervision of the gym to insure the safety of the kids, the guidance concerning how to play the game and helping develop the kids skills for the future. Never requesting pay.

The school administration and school board did the right thing when they awarded Sean the head coaching position. (Give the local boy a chance.)

My concern is four-fold;

1. Two years is not adequate time to develop a winning program. (And we all want to win, nothing wrong with that.)

2. Sean and the team were continuing to improve.

3. Need more seniors on the team, they will be there next year.

4. Does this whole procedure teach kids the proper method for dealing with disputes?

Sean conducted himself in a professional manner, always. No fits of anger on the sidelines, no humiliating of players when they made mistakes, complimenting players when they excelled. Always the coaching model Whitefish expects of its coaches.

Fans must be professional also, displaying the same behavior they expect of the coach.

My concern is: why the negative use of petition? When concerns arrive go to the coach face-to-face and one- or a group-on-one. Be up front. If not satisfied go up the chain of command: coach, athletic director, principal, superintendent and school board. This is always the best approach when wanting to air grievances. Utilizing proper policy best serves all concerned. Never take the responsibility of hiring and firing coaches out of the hands of the proper authorities. Never should a few disgruntled individuals usurp a tried and true procedure; thereby embarrassing and humiliating any individual into resigning any position in the Whitefish School system.

John Morris, Whitefish