Frank Kelly’s dismissal at Kennedy Catholic has led to a firestorm among parents and returning players. Several top returning players have requested transcripts in recent days that would allow them to transfer to another school.
The parents have created an online petition requesting answers from the Kennedy Catholic administration and board of directors. As of Tuesday night, the petition had been signed by 235 people. Several parents have also requested meetings with school administrators both in person and by e-mail but none of their requests have been granted.
Kelly learned of his dismissal on Friday from outgoing athletic director Dave Concepcion, who is scheduled to retire after the school year to be replaced by another member of the faculty, Father Matthew Newcomb. Despite the sudden decision, Kelly coached the team on Friday night and Saturday at West Point’s team camp. Players had not been notified until Friday night.
The school has not formed an interview committee or named a replacement, but, according to several sources, girls basketball coach Al Morales is considered the leading candidate to replace Kelly. He coached the boys basketball team at Somers from 2004-07.
64 Comments
I have deleted the comment.
To whoever wrote that, if you impersonate someone again, I will ban you. Cut it out.
FYI, I checked Morales’ record on max preps. Don’t know how accurate that is…. It had Mike Rama as the coach in 04-09 and then Morales for only one year and then Mike Rama again the last two years? Is that true?
FYI,
15-8, 6-12,17-4,4-15 according to highschoolsports.net as girls coach.
Division I, II and III coaches get fired all the time. I bet it was not personal. If JFK want to hire the girls coach so be it. From my understanding he took over the girls when they were at rock bottom and has lead them to the county center 2 out of the last 4 year’s. He was also the boys asst. in ‘04 when they won the State-Federation Championship so he must know something. Seems like the real problem is that we have parents who think they know it all and are always trying to manipulate coaches so that they can have it their way. The school is called JFK and not Burger king.
I don’t know the situation and frankly don’t care. This is just a bunch of politics and the only ones getting hurt are the kids, but please stop putting the Kennedy Coaching job out there like it is the equivalent of coaching the Knicks!! Some of you are guys are a little out of hand!!
Yes, Lou DeMello knows his Hoops, however he is a “habitual meddler” and is quick to forget himself in that he is a parent. Lou DeMeddler is always sniping from the stands.
JFK as a school is a Joke, playing in a Section 1 League with recruited players against Westchester Public Schools and them claiming dominance???
PeekFat is right, this should hardly be considered as braking news..
Are there not stories of kids moving into districts in order to play for their basketball team? Recruiting although less prevalent in the public schools, undoubtedly occurs. I think most people don’t care unless the recruiting is brandished in everyone’s face. I think it is always a bigger story when young players from Brewster, Somers, Mahopac, Yorktown, North Salem are “enticed” to play for a program that actually puts together a spring program that entails basketball and weightlifting. This program actually has a plan and a track record for improving players and for some placing players in college. KC has a proud tradition. I think there are a lot of uninvolved people out here who like to say things that arent true to sensationalize the situation. It seems obvious there was a friendship and a gentleman’s handshake between an AD that didnt like one varsity coach and on his final parting shot, thought he could get his friend a job without anyone causing a stink. But these closed door meetings shouldn’t happen anywhere but time and time again has happened at this school. Look at the history of coaches since 2007. Girls, boys, baseball, basketball, lacrosse. There is a lack of leadership from the top of that school where they keep making decisions that affect the kids without really having a strong leader in the decision making seat. Hopefully this new AD will keep the process of choosing a new coach in an inclusive and open way that encourages top talented coaches to apply for the job. Why should there not be an interview process? I can think of several candidates that would be good for that job..
randy stephens moved from ossining to mvernon so he could play without sitting. in the catholic league i believe the same rule applies. you can transfer and not sit if your family in fact moves to a different city.
ex. if demello moved to the bronx, his son could attend st. rays and play without sitting. and hey now that oliver left for manhattan college maybe they will offer lou that job??
westchedda,
Thats not the rule in the CHSAA. I don’t know how it works for Kennedy, but for Stepinac, Iona, St Rays, etc, I’ve NEVER heard of a kid transferring and being able to play immediately without sitting out a year. Only exception I know of is if a school closes like Rice did. Have to respect the CHSAA’s rules…in the PSAL, kids “move” constantly and it creates an unfair advantage for the bigger schools like Lincoln, Boys, etc.
Yes, I have to agree with Lou LU and his comment on the “DeMeddler”. That guy just loves to bring people down no matter what the situation is. Now he is doing it again with the girls varsity coach. When will somebody shut him down once and for all.
If you have ever played for Lou Demello you would know how much knowledge he has for the game. I thinks it’s sad these “men” hide behind a fake name and trash talk someone. He snipes from the stands? Or he tells the kids teaching points that goes over most of these geniuses writing on this blog.
After reading about whats going on, it seems like the Archdiocese has placed a target on Kennedy High School. Does anyone know how financially sound the school is?
Im surprised the Savs havent weighed in yet saying what great coaches they are and how they should coach football, basketball and lacrosse at Kennedy. Knowing their delusional thoughts,it’s just a matter of time!
I know they have been taking full payers from China and placing them in host famillies that receive stipends for “hosting”. Is Kennedy Catholic fiscally solvent? I am sure it is an issue.