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For the second time in two months, the Niles McKinley High football program is seeking a head coach. <\/p>\n
In mid-January, Tom Sporich was hired by the Niles City School District to guide the football program. Sporich was tabbed by the Niles Board of Education to replace Jim Parry, who stepped down following an eight-year stint with the Red Dragons. <\/p>\n
On Friday, Sporich resigned amid speculation that he made an inappropriate comment regarding a female student at the school. <\/p>\n
On Sunday, Sporich acknowledged the wrongdoing and apologized for his actions. <\/p>\n
Sporich says he is \u201cextremely embarrassed and saddened that my comment let several great people and organizations down.\u201d He thanked the search committee and apologized to those who voted in his favor. <\/p>\n
Sporich acknowledged that the incident in question occurred last Thursday when he was discussing the upcoming season with a pair of junior football players, along with an underclassman who was considering joining the football team this year. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe atmosphere was upbeat, easy going and loose,\u201d Sporich said. \u201cThe discussion revolved around the benefits of playing football next fall and how high expectations for a successful season were. A female student-athlete walked by and we all shared hellos.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs she walked down the hall a good 20 feet away, the young males looked. I then uttered two words that were meant as a compliment but were construed and interpreted as an inappropriate comment later that afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sporich noted that he was later \u201cmade aware of the severity of the two-word comment\u201d by Niles athletic director Chuck Schiffhauer. <\/p>\n
On Friday, Sporich met with Schiffhauer and Niles assistant principal Allyson Martin. He then spoke on the phone with Niles superintendent Ann Marie Thigpen. Following the phone conversation, Sporich said that it was determined that the right thing to do would be to resign. <\/p>\n
\u201cI am guilty of the following: Saying those two words, being trustworthy, being comfortable in a high school setting, letting my guard down, being old school,\u201d Sporich said. <\/p>\n
Sporich went on to thank numerous Niles businesses and booster organizations for their support. He also recognized assistant coaches Brian Tydings and John Protopapa.<\/p>\n
Sporich\u2019s brief tenure at Niles was met with challenges and uncertainty from the start. <\/p>\n
Sporich was recommended for the position by Thigpen after a search committee consisting of Thigpen, Board of Education member Mary Ann McMahon, Niles McKinley High Principal Stephen Rovnak and athletic director Chuck Schiffhauer chose him from a field of applicants.<\/p>\n
The Niles Board of Education met on Jan. 13 to approve the hiring. Following a 90-minute executive session to discuss the issue, Sporich was voted in by a 3-2 margin. Board members McMahon, Sarah Conroy and Michele Lamb voted in favor of Sporich, while Kimberly Barrell and Christopher Parise voted against the hire. <\/p>\n
\u201cAt that time, there were a couple of reasons I voted against the hire,\u201d Barrell said. \u201cOne was his record, and also I had concerns about the time lapse since he was last a head coach.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sporich previously served as a head coach at Newbury (1999-2000) and Brooklyn (2004-06). At Newbury he posted a 5-15 record. Brooklyn\u2019s official three-year record during Sporich\u2019s stint was 2-28. However, in 2005, Brooklyn won four games, but was forced to vacate those wins due to an administrative player eligibility issue. <\/p>\n
Barrell, who serves as board president, is hopeful that a new coach can be put in place in a timely manner. <\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, I don\u2019t know how this will be handled because it\u2019s such an unusual situation,\u201d Barrell said. \u201cLegally, I\u2019m not sure of the specifics because of our contracts with the unions. That\u2019s something we will have to determine at our meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure everyone involved wants what is best for our kids. And hopefully we can get this settled as soon as possible for the sake of the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tuesday\u2019s board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. It will take place at the district\u2019s administration building, located on N. Rhodes Avenue in Niles.<\/p>\n
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