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Post by brophy on Aug 14, 2006 15:45:16 GMT -6
Donnalley says he resigned from job
Source: Ex-Christian coach tackled player after drill at Pfeiffer
DAVID SCOTT
dscott@charlotteobserver.com
Observer File Photo
Kevin Donnalley
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S. Iredell returns seasoned squad
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8/10: Donnalley won't coach at Christian
Kevin Donnalley said Saturday he resigned as football coach at Charlotte Christian last week after taking what he called "inappropriate disciplinary action against a player."
In an e-mail to the Observer, Donnalley, a former Carolina Panthers offensive lineman whose career at Charlotte Christian lasted one season, did not say what the action was, except that it occurred Saturday, Aug. 5.
But a source close to several Knights players said Donnalley angrily tackled a player from behind while the team was practicing during a preseason camp at Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer.
The source said Donnalley became upset when the player -- a defensive back -- tackled a teammate after the whistle had blown to end a drill. The source said Donnalley, with a running start of several yards, sprinted at the smaller player as his back was turned, hitting him with his shoulder between the player's shoulder blades.
The source said that as the player lay on the ground, two teammates ran up to Donnalley to protest. But Donnalley instructed the three players -- the player he tackled and the two who came to his defense -- to run laps as punishment.
Another source close to the program said Donnalley's tackle did not injure the player.
Wednesday, Charlotte Christian announced that Donnalley, 38, had "stepped away" from the job. In his e-mail Saturday, he clarified what that meant:
"I am deeply saddened to resign as head coach of the Charlotte Christian football team. In an incident that took place on Aug. 5, I took inappropriate disciplinary action against a player. I appreciate the forgiveness and love that I have received from the player, his family and Charlotte Christian. I am grateful for the prayers and support from the Charlotte Christian community.
"This was an extremely difficult decision because of my desire to stay in football even after 27 years of playing and coaching. My decision to resign is what is best for the team and the school at this time. I wish the team all the best and look forward to supporting them in the 2006 season."
Donnalley originally agreed to an in-person interview with the Observer on Friday, but later chose to e-mail a prepared statement. He did not return calls seeking further response.
Despite the circumstances that led to Donnalley's resignation, Charlotte Christian head of school Dr. Leo Orsino said Saturday that Donnalley still might have a role with the team, possibly as a consultant. Orsino said he didn't know if Donnalley's involvement would include direct contact with players.
"That's something that will take some time to determine," Orsino said.
Donnalley has three children who attend Charlotte Christian. He was replaced by assistants Mike Rose and Eugene Robinson, who will be interim co-coaches the rest of the season.
Rose is the son of former Charlotte 49ers basketball coach Lee Rose. Robinson also is a former Panthers player and the team's radio analyst. As a member of the Atlanta Falcons in 1999, Robinson was arrested the night before the Falcons played in the Super Bowl on charges he gave an undercover officer $40 for sex. He had just been awarded the NFL's Bart Starr Award that season for "high moral character."
Donnalley isn't the first coach to lose his job for physically abusing a player.
In 1978, former Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes was fired after he hit a Clemson player during a game. Kentucky State fired men's basketball coach Winston Bennett in 2003 for hitting player Ricky Green. Green filed a criminal complaint against Bennett, who was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service and get anger management counseling.
Texas Tech basketball coach Bob Knight choked a player in 1997 when he was at Indiana, an incident that contributed to his being fired.
Donnalley is a North Carolina graduate who began his college career at Davidson. Before playing for the Panthers in 2001-03, he played for the Houston/Tennessee Oilers in 1991-97 and Miami in 1998-2000.
In July, Donnalley was one of seven former Panthers named by prosecutors in a case against Dr. James Shortt as having received illegal performance-enhancing drugs from the Columbia-based doctor. Shortt was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison in the case.
Charlotte Christian -- 3-8 last season in Donnalley's first year as coach -- opens its season Friday at home against the Carolina Pride. Reached Saturday, parents of Knights players said the team has handled the situation well.
"Everybody is positive and rallying, pulling together as a team," said Susan Siragusa, mother of senior linebacker Sonny Siragusa. "They and (parents) are supportive of Kevin and whatever decisions he makes."
Said another mother, who asked not to be identified: "The players have been unbelievable. Despite the outcome, we're so proud of how mature and Christ-like the boys have handled it. Better than the parents!"
-- Staff writers Charles Chandler and Langston Wertz Jr. and researcher Maria Wygand contributed to this article.
-- David Scott: (704) 358-5889
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Post by coachjd on Aug 14, 2006 15:52:27 GMT -6
I know there has been times that I wanted to a lot of different things to some kids (especially back in the day when I was a little younger) but never did I dream of following through.
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Post by groundchuck on Aug 14, 2006 19:01:46 GMT -6
Can't say I ever followed through...except for this one time on the faculty-student basketball game. I set screen on this jer-wad of a kid and he bounced. It was fun. Clean pick too, I just outwiegh him by 60+ pounds.
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Post by coachcb on Aug 14, 2006 19:28:31 GMT -6
When I get that upset at a player (pretty rare), they go away for a little bit. I may send him to the sidelines, for a run, or home. Either way, I want them gone for awhile while I collect myself. I've never wanted to do what that dude did, but I've been tempted to get real nasty verbally.
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Post by banditgsk on Aug 15, 2006 8:40:36 GMT -6
I INADVERTENTLY pushed a player during a drill when I thought the kid (12 years old) was set, and he wasn't, and he fell to the ground on his butt. I gave him a push on the shoulder pads as he shuffled down the line and he fell. He got up and began to whimper; not sure if his feeling were hurt or if falling to the ground hurt actually hurt a little. He had full pads on, including girdle and tail pad. Well, I got in big trouble; his father cussed me out twice on separate days; I offered to resign, but was told by HC that I should stay. One of the other coaches saw the whole thing and said the kid should have been ready, we had done this drill before, and the push was not done either forcefully or with the intent to push the kids to the ground. (The kid's dad reminded me that I weigh over 200 and the kid weighs only 130 and I should be ashamed of myself, which I was.) Since then, I don't push players in drills or make contact with them, other than high-fives.
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Post by burtledog on Aug 15, 2006 11:38:07 GMT -6
Dear Coaches:
I am the non-coach. This really troubles me. I think Donnalley did over react, but the degree of whining-from boys and parents bothers me. I only played through freshman year (Jr. High), and it was common in youth and jr. high for a coach to grab a face mask, push or manhandle players. No one complained. It was football, a physical and emotional sport. Abuse is one thing, but you all sound like what I saw as part of the game, is now...well abuse. Sad.
Greg
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Post by olinecoach61 on Aug 15, 2006 11:58:03 GMT -6
I just throw the kid out of practice when I get in those situations. It makes an example and allows for me to cool off.
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Post by airman on Aug 15, 2006 14:04:47 GMT -6
I punched a kid once. had to go through anger management. best thing which has happened to me.
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Post by brophy on Aug 15, 2006 14:31:20 GMT -6
the 'nastiest' I've ever gotten was tell a player that was goofing off in film sessions that that was probably the reason he couldn't break the starting lineup......felt pretty bad after that.
Getting physical with a player out of spite has never overtook me yet
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Post by coachcb on Aug 15, 2006 16:20:58 GMT -6
I s'pose you could say I got physical with a kid, but not quite to the extent that this dude did-
I had a kid sub himself in during a game once, got us a 12-men-on-the-field call. He was a freshman on the B-squad (one of the 14 years olds that's as hasn't hit puberty) who was was just sure he was an A squad player. We were in the middle of an A-squad game, with the B-squad game starting right after. I didn't even yell at him for it, just told him that I'd get him in. We were down big, early, so I told him he might get some 3rd and 4th q time also.
About 10 minutes later, he had his helmet turned around and backwards on top of his head- I asked him to get his helmet on and he grudgingly complied. I have a very simple rule, during practice and in games you keep your helmet on. Doesn't have to be snapped, but I want it on so that when I need you in some where you're not screwing around, looking for your gear. This was one of the last games of the year- this was no big secret.
A little while later, he's got his hat completely off, no where in sight. Once again, I ask him to get his helmet on- he replies "(beep) off, you (beep)I'm not playing so I don't need the (beep)-(beep) helmt anyway". I'm pretty furious at this point, but I grit my teeth and just tell him he's not playing for the day and walk away.
Well, here's where I finally lose it. I'm looking for one of my starters and I find him, and several other kids, surrounding my non-helmet wearer. They're listening to him call the coaching staff every name under the sun. I tell the kid to sit his butt down on the bench and to shut up- he replies with yet another string of colorful expletives. I grabbed him by the shoulder pads, dragged him over to the bench and plopped him down and told him that if he got up he'd never play football at the school.
I got in some pretty serious crap over that one..
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Post by brophy on Aug 15, 2006 16:28:14 GMT -6
I s'pose you could say I got physical with a kid, but not quite to the extent that this dude did- I had a kid sub himself in during a game once, got us a 12-men-on-the-field call. He was a freshman on the B-squad (one of the 14 years olds that's as hasn't hit puberty) who was was just sure he was an A squad player. We were in the middle of an A-squad game, with the B-squad game starting right after. I didn't even yell at him for it, just told him that I'd get him in. We were down big, early, so I told him he might get some 3rd and 4th q time also. About 10 minutes later, he had his helmet turned around and backwards on top of his head- I asked him to get his helmet on and he grudgingly complied. I have a very simple rule, during practice and in games you keep your helmet on. Doesn't have to be snapped, but I want it on so that when I need you in some where you're not screwing around, looking for your gear. This was one of the last games of the year- this was no big secret. A little while later, he's got his hat completely off, no where in sight. Once again, I ask him to get his helmet on- he replies "(beep) off, you (beep)I'm not playing so I don't need the (beep)-(beep) helmt anyway". I'm pretty furious at this point, but I grit my teeth and just tell him he's not playing for the day and walk away. Well, here's where I finally lose it. I'm looking for one of my starters and I find him, and several other kids, surrounding my non-helmet wearer. They're listening to him call the coaching staff every name under the sun. I tell the kid to sit his butt down on the bench and to shut up- he replies with yet another string of colorful expletives. I grabbed him by the shoulder pads, dragged him over to the bench and plopped him down and told him that if he got up he'd never play football at the school. I got in some pretty serious crap over that one.. lol....we had a kid tell us to "F- off" during a game......we had a coach take him to clean out his locker right then and leave the stadium (middle of the 2nd quarter). |
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Post by coachcb on Aug 15, 2006 16:34:45 GMT -6
Lol- the stand were filled with people that watched me, at 5'11, 275 pick this kid up and plant him on the bench. Scared the crap out of the kid and more then a few parents.
My first thought had been to drag him to the lockers to get his stuff, but earlier that year I had actually gotten into trouble for doing it. I had a kid swear at me (great group of kids) during practice, so I took him to the locker room and sent him home. Administration was upset because of "liability issues".
My reply was simple, if he get run over while he's supposed to be at practice, you may get sued, but I at least we won't have to put up with his crap.
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Post by saintrad on Aug 15, 2006 20:15:54 GMT -6
obviously the former carolina player is in football for the wrong reasons. There is never an appropriate time, place, or situation (short of imminent danger for the player) to EVER grab them in anger. Those coaches should quietly go off to the coaching tar pits so we can pump them into our oversized SUVs as gas.
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Post by burtledog on Aug 16, 2006 5:49:13 GMT -6
Guys, is this why we don't have the stomach to survive in a war of cultures? Even coaches would rather kick a kid off the team than run him till he pukes or shake him for a few seconds. Parents who are giving you their boys for 10-15 hours a week to teach them mental and physical toughness complain when you knock a kid down during a contact drill? I guess I am a 41 year old dinosaur.
Greg
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Post by coachroberts99 on Aug 16, 2006 6:08:38 GMT -6
I have never hit a player or ever laid a hand on any guy in the squad. Personally I feel drilling a guy in the back is disgusting from anyone let alone a coach in a position of trust, just well out of order.
The only thing I regret is at times the language I use, and at times I have shouted at guys for being burnt or missing tackles where with hindsight that wasn't at all productive for anyone.
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Post by saintrad on Aug 16, 2006 22:06:29 GMT -6
I'm sorry, but there is never a reason a coach should be so mad he has to have a running start to tackle one of his players...EVER! We are supposed to be rolemodels and mentors, not backstabbers, or in this case, back tacklers. Chemistry and trust are built WITHOUT having to abuse your players beyond what the scope of the game requires. Cnat figure that out, then you need to get out of the game.
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Post by wildcat on Aug 16, 2006 22:33:02 GMT -6
Football is an intense game and football coaches tend to be very intense people. With that being said, there is never really a time when it is appropriate for a coach to physically manhandle a player.
My first year as a coach, I grabbed a kid by his jersey on the sideline and pulled him in close for a talking to. Didn't think anything about it at the time...something that had been done to me a million times as a player...Well, the next day, the kid's dad called me and was simply irate. Called me a bully and said that his boy was afraid of me now. I was really taken aback by the whole thing and ended up apologizing to the kid, his parents, and the team.
What it comes down to is that, today, certain behaviors are not acceptable. 15 years ago, when I played HS ball, coaches grabbed your facemask, pulled you in close, got on your butt, swore, and it was accepted...it was part of the "culture" of football. Well, that culture has changed and kids (and, more importantly, parents) don't respond to that kind of behavior. So, it's either evolve with the times or get out of the business.
I have only been coaching for six years, but I am often really embarrassed when I think back at my conduct when I was a young buck. I swore at practice, yelled at officials, became completely unglued on the sideline when bad things happened...basically, I was the antithesis of what we as coaches expect of our players. I have slowly learned over time that kids will play better out of respect and love than they will out of intimidation and hate.
I have a long way to go, but I at least hope that I am on the right track.
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Post by tog on Aug 16, 2006 22:38:30 GMT -6
I had to "simulate" a defensive end the other night
pancaked our left tackle about 5 times before he finally cut me, he finally figured out, when a bigger stronger dude is knocking your butt back, just use his momentum against him,
getting too old for that stuff though
those dings in my head are still ringing some
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Post by brophy on Aug 17, 2006 6:55:03 GMT -6
along the lines of getting physical, and this becomes borderline because too often it is tough to gauge our strength versus theirs.....but
when DEMONSTRATING technique (hand placement / separation / pass pro punch / block destruction, etc), does any one else find it difficult to 'tone it down' without killing a player?
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Post by tog on Aug 17, 2006 7:02:02 GMT -6
they have pads on, I don't, I am going to go full speed to protect myself
I do "pick" the right guys when demonstrating pass punch though, guys I know won't go home and cry about how I knocked them on the ground
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Post by coachcb on Aug 17, 2006 9:19:27 GMT -6
I hear you on that one tog....But I've still gotten into trouble for demonstrating at full speed in the past. I was demonstrating a high-shed strike and rip technique with a 6'0 210lb kid, I didn't strike him hard, but he fell forward on the pull and rip. Not a big deal, he just kind of stumbled but didn't hurt himself and was good humored about it. This kid was the only one I ever demonstrated on- he's a freakin beast that loved contact. However, one of the other kids(one that I would never, ever think about demonstrating with at any speed) went home and tattled on the ol coach for being too rough. I heard about that one from the admin. the next day.
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Post by wildcat on Aug 17, 2006 9:22:20 GMT -6
I will "scrimmage" against the kids. We only have 20 varsity players, so, for example, we will do 2 minute drill on air. I will move around and pass rush against the linemen 1 on 1. I will give them a good look, too (at least as good as a 32-year-old out-of-shape has-been can give!)
I don't think there is anything wrong with that...in that scenario, you are teaching a kid by giving him a look...you aren't physically intimidating him or browbeating him.
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Post by coachcb on Aug 17, 2006 10:44:38 GMT -6
That's the way I have always done it- I'm teaching the kids not trying to intimidate them.
But I do want to pose a question to you guys- In the situation with the expletive spouting player I described above, what would you guys have done. I'm not looking for validation in terms of what I did- but I honestly didn't know how to handle the situation when it hit that point. I had ignored the kid telling me to "go f- myself" several times, but when the situation started disrupting the sidelines and the team- I was just a tad upset. However, bear in mind, that even when it reached that situation, I told the player to go sit down and be quiet- he again replied with "f- off".
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Post by tog on Aug 17, 2006 10:54:12 GMT -6
if there is a definite lack of ass kickers on the team
someone has to demonstrate the physicality needed to in
if they have a problem with that, then I am just going some place that has fewer pootanannys there
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Post by bulldog on Aug 17, 2006 13:10:59 GMT -6
It is a different day, different age from when I was a kid. If a player had an earring, he wasn't cool, he was a girl. Showing your butt crack was a good way to stay single. There was no rap, only soul music. Suburban kids who had never seen a tough neighborhood didn't pretend they were pimps.
I went thru the Marine Corps bootcamp and was never touched in anger by a Drill Instructor. And they used to regularly beat the crap out of guys who didn't perform. Times change. I don't see why a coach who should be teaching life lessons thru the game of football could lose perspective so badly he would need to go after a kid in anger. I get caught up in the games and I have been guilty of yelling at the referees (who seem to get worse every year - but thats another subject). As leaders, we need to recognize that the kids will follow our actions and attitudes. We need to set the example of appropriate behavior and language.
Personally, I participate to a limited extent in some drills. I'll 'play' a flat player to give a read. But I never demonstrate a technique on a player at anything other than a standing tempo. I will never go 1-on-1 with a player and get physical. Hit a player? - That's just crazy IMO. I can demonstate on a tall bag if I need to go full speed. Or I can have a kid hold a shield. If the kid needs the work - he should go against another kid. And if you are hitting players and picking your kids carefully in hopes they won't tell . . . it's only a matter of time.
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Post by saintrad on Aug 17, 2006 21:57:46 GMT -6
amen bulldog amen
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Post by brophy on Aug 18, 2006 8:42:39 GMT -6
That's the way I have always done it- I'm teaching the kids not trying to intimidate them. But I do want to pose a question to you guys- In the situation with the expletive spouting player I described above, what would you guys have done. I'm not looking for validation in terms of what I did- but I honestly didn't know how to handle the situation when it hit that point. I had ignored the kid telling me to "go f- myself" several times, but when the situation started disrupting the sidelines and the team- I was just a tad upset. However, bear in mind, that even when it reached that situation, I told the player to go sit down and be quiet- he again replied with "f- off". kid should be removed from the sideline. period. He doesn't belong with the team. Doesn't belong on the sideline. He's out of control - let the psychiatrist get the kid some meds..... There is no "right" way to continue to tolerate that behavior |
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Post by khalfie on Aug 18, 2006 8:47:35 GMT -6
What you tolerate... you encourage...
I'd recommend watching the Dog Whisperer... you wouldn't believe how analogous his handling of unruly dogs is to handling unruly teenagers...
But in regards to kids that disrespect staff, they've got to go... playing is a privilege, not a right...
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Post by coachcb on Aug 18, 2006 10:31:56 GMT -6
Thanks guys. It would have been a whole different story if I had just flown off of the handle and started tossing the kid around. He was told to sit down on the bench and popped off, so I removed him from the situation. I wish I wouldn't have to grab him, but it was the only way to deal with it.
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