I’ve never been granted an interview as football coach
Blackballed? I applied for the head football position two years ago and also again this year without getting an interview for the football position.
I probably have more experience than anyone on the staff in Warren County. I have coached players who have gone on to play with University of Alabama, Florida, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, Southern Mississippi and others I may not know. Two have gone on to play in the pros. One with the Chicago Bears and one with the Canadian League.
I took the head football position with a school in Florida in about the same situation Warren County is in. The school did not have a weight program and could not win. The eighth-graders I started on the weight program. Four years later, they were state runners-up and the seventh-graders that started lifting weights won the state championship their senior year in the state of Florida.
I have to admit I was fired just starting my fourth year. It was not over football but over a conflict I had with the basketball coach. I was hired the next day by a principal who knew what kind of situation I was in. Anyway, that’s another story.
Granted, I have been out of coaching for some time, but coaching has never left me and I regret to this day of ever leaving coaching. It’s been a dream of mine to coach again. Two years ago, I went back to college in order to get re-certified which I achieved. I started to school in January and on Feb. 15 had major surgery. I was back in school in about four weeks because I knew I had to get re-certified in case the opportunity arose to coach again.
Two years ago when I applied, I was told by a school system employee that I was on the list to be interviewed. After calling the athletic director, I was told I was not. I’m not criticizing those I spoke with, but what has happened to the acumen and integrity of professionals. When I was growing up, your word was your honor.
I called the former head coach in Illinois on Sunday night about an assistant coaching position. I was informed by the coach he could hire his own coaches and would call me Friday when he got into town and we would discuss the situation. I sat by my telephone all day and into late afternoon, but no phone call. Maybe he had his reasons for not calling.
I was told by a committee member just before announcing the head coach, not knowing he was on the committee when I talked to him. I informed him that all I was interested in was an interview. He said he would see what he could do about me getting an interview. Again, I won’t give his name.
I had some great ideas I wanted to share about making the Warren County Pioneer football program respectable again. I guess I will just keep those ideas to myself. I want to wish Coach Chris Madewell and his staff the best.
Donald S. Roberts
212 Woodland Drive
McMinnville