Blue Mountain school board members voted unanimously against accepting the resignation of head football coach Tom Gallagher Thursday night.
The vote was meant to be symbolic and send a message to Gallagher, indicating they want him to stay in that position going forward.
Gallagher told The Canary Saturday morning that he’s “confused” by the board’s vote this week and still intends to resign as football coach. Further, he said he’ll be leaving his teaching role at Blue Mountain in the Spring.
Gallagher spent four seasons as Blue Mountain’s head football coach and has worked for the district for seven years. He said he officially submitted his resignation to the district on Jan. 22 but told the school of his intent back in November unless conditions that led him to the decision changed.
On Thursday, Blue Mountain’s school board heard nearly an hour of pleas from the public – including current football players and parents – to reach out to Gallagher in an attempt to get him to stay. They also scolded board members for perceived actions that led to Gallagher deciding to step down.
During the lengthy and contentious public comment period, tempers flared at times and board members who felt they were being singled out as the ones responsible for Gallagher’s decision to resign spoke.
Prior to anyone speaking on behalf of Gallagher, Board President Michelle Vesay read a statement telling the public that the board never requested Gallagher’s resignation.
“It’s important to remind the public that individuals do not hold the authority to make unilateral decisions on behalf of our board,” Vesay said. “No single board member has the power to act alone.”
The public perception, based on comments lobbed at the board Thursday, is that one or several board members essentially led to Gallagher’s resignation. In an interview with T102SportsNow.com, Gallagher said, “I can’t look over my shoulder leading a program and I can’t wonder what things are going to be coming next. That has started to happen here. That’s something that I don’t want to be involved in and that’s ultimately what led to this decision.”
Gallagher told The Canary that he would not have resigned if the issues he alluded to were addressed.
“I had no intention of resigning if they were resolved,” he said.
Last week, after that article was published, Blue Mountain issued a statement from the school board. It read: “Coach Tom Gallagher accomplished many great things during his tenure at Blue Mountain School District. His dedication, passion, and commitment to building a positive culture has left an indelible mark on our players and community. He has been a strong role model for our players, instilling values of teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship. We appreciate Coach Gal for his invaluable contributions to our district on and off the field, and we are hopeful that he will reconsider his decision and meet with us.”
Gallagher said, “I wasn’t a fan of the statement because it made it seem as though the board has been supportive throughout the whole process and that they weren’t aware of the situation.”
He added that since he made it clear that he intended to resign in November if things didn’t change, he spoke to several board members individually and some as a group.
“That’s where the board’s attempt to state they were unaware of my intent to resign … that’s where the confusion comes into play because they were definitely made aware of it,” Gallagher said.
Board Members Respond to Public Criticism
Three board members were called on the carpet by name during Public Comment Thursday for allegedly being responsible for Gallagher’s decision to resign as football coach: Krista Strause, Roy Heim, and Rebecca Miller.
On Thursday, Strause said she didn’t know why Gallagher chose to resign.
She added, “I can tell you that the last time I spoke with Coach Gallagher and yes, I did meet with him at the end of the season with my son … and you can ask anyone that was in that room, the last thing that I said when I walked out of that room is that I have your back. That is the last thing I said.”
That comment drew a cynical response from those in attendance and it prompted Strause to respond.
“You know what, how many of you actually asked me what happened? Or how many people slandered me on social media? How many people have picked up the phone and asked me a question,” Strause asked.
Heim responded to his name being called out and said he’s held off commenting in public about the accusations.
“Let me get this straight. My son had an issue. My son made a decision. Not me. My son made a decision. We went with that decision just like everyone one of you are doing tonight defending your children doing the right thing. So, my son made a decision and I backed his decision.
Heim added, “If you want to call Tom Gallagher tonight and him the conversation him and I’ve had. Ask him the conversation him and I’ve had every month after that. We’ve talked. I supported him. I’ve supported the system. It’s not about Tom or me, OK? I want to get it clear. It’s not about that. These kids out here, I coached Little League, midget football, basketball … When somebody’s gonna sit here and tell me that I want to support this school and these kids, I’m going to tell you something. I’ve been holding my tongue for a long time.
“I’ve done more than 80% of everybody out in that room,” Heim continued.
He rejected calls for him to resign his position and denied having “ulterior motives” as it was suggested.
“Why don’t you talk to the coach? Call the coach and ask the coach ask him what him and I had. Ask the coach at the end of the season what we talked about. Call him. I don’t need to tell anybody what I do and how I do it. T102 writes an article and never calls me,” Heim said.
At the time of the vote, several other board members spoke. Roseanne Zelusky, who initially asked to table the vote on Gallagher’s resignation, said, “I was shocked about it. I was unaware that he wanted to leave.”
Timothy Grube said he spoke with Gallagher and isn’t about to prevent Gallagher from pursuing another job.
“I told him if he was going to a prime 6A school, if he was going to a collegiate job, if he was doing something that he felt was important to advance himself, I would be the first one in line to shake his hand and congratulate him, wish him nothing but the best,” Grube said. “I also told him because I know that’s not the reason for him leaving, I would be opposing his resignation.”
Grube said he’ll ultimately vote to approve the resignation on a “final vote.”
Board member John Campomizzi wondered why it’s been a week and the board, as a whole, hasn’t spoken with Gallagher.
Community Speaks Out Against Board’s Perceived Actions That Led to Resignation
Students and parents alike weren’t buying what they were being told by school board members on Thursday. They spoke highly of Gallagher and chastised board members individually and as a whole.
“I want to express my gratitude towards the people who spoke the kind words about myself, the program, and everything we built,” Gallagher told The Canary.
Senior Gaige Guers said, “I feel it’s very disrespectful that some and many of the school board members have talked down on his name have not respected Coach Gal in any endeavor he has brought to the football team.
“Not only is he just a coach to me, he’s a mentor and a leader to many of these football players here sitting in front of you. I find it very disrespectful for many of us to disrespect his name, his character, and even talk about him in a way that some have talked about him,” Guers said. “I feel bad for some of you, some of your sons on the football team going through this and having to endure what their parents brought up on them. And it’s just outright disrespectful. I feel some of you should step down. Find a new hobby, a job … It is not right.”
Brian Beckfield, a father who has a son on the football team, told board members that he isn’t aware of what led to Gallagher’s resignation but said it needed to be a “lessons learned kind of thing” for them.
“I know it’s hard to find good people these days … very difficult to find good people, especially guys like Coach Gallagher,” Beckfield said.
He added that Gallagher was “way more than a coach” at Blue Mountain.
“He was in the community. He was in my son’s head. Thank God,” Beckfield added.
The father spoke about how his son was injured during a pre-season scrimmage that forced him to miss his senior year of football but it was Gallagher who was the first to call him and stayed with him the entire season.
“All the way from the last 10 months, he’s been in my son’s head, helping me raise him,” Beckfield said. “We need people like Coach Gallagher who work as coaches for our young men because we need good role models. I know we’re kind of hit and miss with role models in this school district.”
Vesay responded to Beckfield’s comments and said she was “confounded” by Gallagher’s resignation. Responding to the belief that the school board was going to let him go from the football coach job, Vesay added, “This board has never talked about opening that position.”
That comment drew a reaction from those in attendance who yelled, “That’s a lie.”
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