After 39 years and more than in high school basketball, including three provincial championships, Pitt Meadows basketball coach Rich Goulet will no longer be beside the bench.
He含羞草研究社檚 not happy about the way he has been asked to leave, and neither are many of the Marauders含羞草研究社� alumni.
Parents from last year含羞草研究社檚 team complained to administration, and Goulet has been 含羞草研究社渇ired含羞草研究社� from the program he built.
Mike Alain was selected for Goulet含羞草研究社檚 first Grade 7 all-star team, and was coached by him from 1994 to 2000 含羞草研究社� a run that ended in a provincial championship.
含羞草研究社淚 couldn含羞草研究社檛 appreciate him more,含羞草研究社� said Alain. 含羞草研究社淢y mom has reiterated to me many times that I probably would not have graduated if not for him.含羞草研究社�
The headstrong Alain clashed with Goulet, who sometimes yelled until he lost his voice during a game. But Alain never felt Goulet was treating him unfairly.
He said Goulet deserves accolades and to retire on his own terms 含羞草研究社� not to be forced out of the game.
含羞草研究社淚t makes me sick to my stomach,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭hat high school owes him. How is that gym not named after him?含羞草研究社�
Bruce Duthie was coached by Goulet from the age of nine until he graduated 含羞草研究社� also part of that 1992 team.
含羞草研究社淚 have a huge degree of respect for him,含羞草研究社� he said of Goulet, and would like to see him honoured on his way out.
含羞草研究社淗e pushed us, he was in our face, he worked our asses off, but it was never to the point of, This isn含羞草研究社檛 right.含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫
But some of the kids on last year含羞草研究社檚 senior team were not used to it, and Goulet believes that含羞草研究社檚 part of why he was asked to quit coaching.
含羞草研究社淭hey think I was negative, because I gave a lot of speeches about what they needed to do to get better.含羞草研究社�
Goulet outlines a frustrating season, where many of his Grade 12 players were simply not willing to work up to the standards of the program. He said he had to fight with players, and bench them, to get 含羞草研究社渁 basic effort.
含羞草研究社淲e weren含羞草研究社檛 even competitive at triple-A 含羞草研究社� My goodness.含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 never ask anyone to like me when I coach them. I just ask them to do what I want them to do.Maybe I got cranky.含羞草研究社�
If he crossed a line, he said some of the players were also disrespectful to him.
His assistant coach, Ron Wallsmith, doesn含羞草研究社檛 recall any incident that would have led to Goulet losing his status as coach.
含羞草研究社淭hose things don含羞草研究社檛 stand out in my mind,含羞草研究社� he said.
Goulet said the school board conducted an investigation into parent complaints, and afterward he was asked to return and help run the program 含羞草研究社� but not on the bench.
含羞草研究社淲hy would I do that? You just fired me as a coach,含羞草研究社� he said.含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 not here to impose myself to people who don含羞草研究社檛 want me.含羞草研究社�
Neither the school board nor Pitt Meadows secondary principal Mike Keenan would comment, saying personnel matters must remain confidential.
Goulet feels he was not given a fair hearing. He had been retired from teaching for 14 months, coaching as a volunteer, and says the school administration can dismiss a volunteer at a whim.
Walton said coaches around the province have pulled out of Pitt Meadows含羞草研究社� annual Air Show Tournament, and threaten to boycott games against Pitt Meadows. Their schedule could be affected.
Goulet is going to miss it.
含羞草研究社淚 won含羞草研究社檛 miss all the work, or going to practice at 7 a.m. in a freezing gym,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淏ut I love basketball, and I love people who love basketball.含羞草研究社�
Goulet含羞草研究社檚 accomplishments:
含羞草研究社� ;
含羞草研究社� ;
含羞草研究社� Three-time provincial champion coach;
含羞草研究社� Coached approx. 4,000 games at all levels;
含羞草研究社� Has been coaching high school basketball in 1965;
含羞草研究社� Coached provincial and national teams;
含羞草研究社� Founded and administered the Steve Nash Youth Basketball league in Pitt Meadows.
