By Tiffany L. Rehbein
CHINOOK The Chinook Sugarbeeters head boys basketball coach Glenn Smith Monday was placed on administrative leave from his position, according to school officials.
"Coach Smith has been placed on administrative leave," Chinook Public Schools Superintendent Jay Eslick said in a telephone interview. "He has been relieved of his coaching duties."
"He was not fired," Principal Walt Acra said.
In the interim, Mark Roseberry, who was the junior varsity coach, will assume the duties of the head coach. Rob Turner, the freshman coach, will also remain on staff to assist with the coaching duties.
"This surprised me," Smith said in a telephone interview. "I just kind of said, Wow.' I didn't do anything wrong, so I am going to fight it."
Eslick, Acra, and Smith met Monday afternoon where Smith was told he was relieved of his duties due to insubordinate actions.
"I don't know why," Smith said about losing his job. "They have me for administrative leave which relieves me of my duties."
"I'm not at liberty to say specifics," Eslick said of the action. "I can't violate his right to privacy."
Because of the seriousness of Smith's actions, Eslick said, he felt the administrative action was necessary immediately.
Smith has the right to due process and, after filing a grievance, a school board meeting could be held to hear the issue.
Eslick said he had no idea if a school board meeting would be held.
Smith, who will be paid in full, was in his first year at the helm of the Sugarbeeters. Chinook is currently 2-3 in the District 2B and 5-6 overall.
Before Smith arrived at the program, the freshman team had won four games during the previous two years. Under Smith's program, the freshmen are currently 10-1.
Roseberry marks the fifth head coach the boys' program has seen during the past four years.
