Kennedy Catholic boys soccer coach Bill Dodd and his coaching staff have resigned in protest after today’s actions by District 10. Dodd mentioned that the resignation has nothing to do with Fairview but the treatment Kennedy has received from D-10 over the years. Kennedy is unable to practice today and will have to drive to Erie Thursday to play Fairview in a District 10 Class A play-in match. Kennedy athletic director James Piccirilli will likely coach the Golden Eagles the rest of the season.
Read Thursday’s Erie Times-News for more on the story.
–Tom Reisenweber
This is sad for the boys and the school..Wonder what “Big brother” in Mechanicsburg is going to say when the news reaches the Emerald City? Best of luck in the future Mr. Dodd
This should be enough to make the committee change their mind again. What a fiasco they have created.
First I must comment on the coach resigning. What a message to send to his team. Hopefully they can rise above his imature reaction and show their maturity by giving it their best without him. I am well aware of District 10′s favoritism, being a parent and a fan of sports for four decades in District 10. That will never change, but I certainly hope that all coaches will consider their athletes before making rash decisions.
The committee did not create a fiasco. They simple made a mistake and fixed it. They did what was right.
Not exactly the best example being made.
First the practice point isn’t a point. Going over anything in two hours this late in the season isn’t going to make an extreme difference. Practice is most important in August.
I mean sure you can go over some things from the game they lost against Fairview to try to lock things up. But, I think most teams in high school have their offensive formation and their defensive formation. Play a 5-4-1 instead of a 4-4-2 and play the game.
Secondly, couldn’t it perhaps be better for Kennedy Catholic to get another crack with a Fairview side their familiar with (with playing recently) to build up some confidence in advance to playing Mercyhurst Prep instead of playing Prep, cold, in their first playoff game?
If you can’t be Fairview anyway, then you likely can’t beat Prep.
KC coaches, thank you for demonstrating your courage and integretity by actually standing up as a team in belief of your true convictions and making this very tough decision. No doubt the boys know your motivation, and no doubt they will support this lesson learned.
I feel bad for those KC players…first they were in, then they find out they need to play their way in, then their coach quits on them. What a tumultuous 24 hours for them. Their coach could have made the same point by resigning after the game (at the very least, SOMEONE from the staff could have stayed on to coach these kids).
I can’t claim to know how he is feeling since this is such an unprecedented turn of events, but he should have taken a deep breath and waited to make that drastic move. How are these kids supposed to be motivated enough to want to win now? It was bad enough when they probably felt that D10 Committee was against them, now they have a coach who deserted them. So sad….
The committee did create a problem by not correctly filling out the bracket. If the play-in game was originally added, nobody would have said a word. The timing and the perception is the issue and the D10 has noone to blame but themselves.
Wow,a neutral field, could you have made it any closer to Fairview? And why so quick? Why not Saturday at a real neutral field?
This is aweful for the Kennedy Catholic kids. I believe Fairview deserved to be in, I thinck the District 10 committee has to look hard at itself to avoid this situation again.
@SC – your dead wrong, this sends the absolutely wrong message to the kids by Coach Dodd. The KC coaches may feel the rules changed unfairly, and they may be right. Many times in life the circumstance change beyond our control We have choice, adapt and move on or quit. Winners learn how to adapt and move on, losers quit.
I am curious if anyone on this blog has spoken to coach dodd or if they are just making statements based on their personal belief system. Before you say a man is right or wrong I would suggest you contact that man and ask him personally. After gathering this info you would be free to decide if what coach dodd did was just or unjust. I have personally know coach dodd for half a dozen years and in that time he has never once to my knowledge done anything without thinking it through. For what it is worth Bill Dodd I believe you were acting in the best interest of your players, your fans, Kennedy Catholic, and the overall soccer community. I will stand by you whenever you ask.
I’ve known Bill Dodd for many years and I support him and his decision 100%. For people asking what this teaches his players, I have to ask what District 10 is teaching these players? These boys who’ve worked extremely hard for years had played by the rules since the very beginning …rules written in black and white that District 10 created and mandated to all its participant schools. As of Tuesday, based on those written rules, playoff brackets were published and KC earned a first-round game against Mercyhurst.
Then, under outside pressure, D-10 throws its own rules out the window and recants the playoff bracket, losing any integrity and credibility they had in the process.
Despite the opinions of some, I think this is an excellent lesson to teach those boys …that when the system you’re a part of is corrupt, ugly, and lacking in all integrity and credibility, that the right thing to do is walk away and take what little bit of self-respect you have along with you.
It’s about principle. It’s about time to stop feeding the D-10 monster.
Bill put his foot down today and decided to do just that.
It’s not about whether KC still gets a “play-in” shot or still has a chance …that’s settling for the scraps that D-10 has decided to throw you versus what you’ve rightfully earned and was wrongfully taken away. As a player I would have serious reservations about taking the field under such a scenario.
I’m also a coach under the D-10 umbrella, and as of today I’ve lost all respect for the organization, not to mention confidence going forward. That could just as easily be any other team, my team, your team, your kid’s team getting shafted.
Cheers to Coach Dodd for standing up for himself and his team.
The real problem is the District 10 Committee. They have been out of control for many years and this is a prime example of just one of their many errors over the years. I believe this action will motivate the KC players. Watch out Fairview.
call me ignorant but im just wondering if anyone knows what the coach is alluding to when he says the treatment towards kc over the years. im not really aware of kc so just wondering if anyone knows any specifics that he may be thinking of
The simple fact is this. The District 10 committee should have never approved and released a bracket, only to change it the next day. That’s ridiculous and unheard of.
What that tells me is they didn’t take the time or care to look at all possibilities the first time around. They must have had more important things to do that day. It also makes it look like they got bullied into creating a play-in game, which is even worse.
It’s obvious to me that some of these D-10 committee fat cats need to be weeded out. Whether the play-in game is right or not isn’t the issue. The real issue is whether or not the District 10 committee has sufficient leadership in place.
It certainly doesn’t seem like it.
I echo everything said by KCSoccer. Bill Dodd is known as respected as a man of integrity throughout the soccer community. If you need an example of this (maybe this addresses part of joker3000′s question), consider this: about 7 or 8 years ago, before the days of regional alignment, KC went into its final match against Eisenhower with a record around .500. Eisenhower won handily (7-0 or something like that) and finished with an excellent record and just 2-3 losses. The next day, D10 posted the brackets and chose KC over Eisenhower. Bill Dodd immediately contacted D10 and told them they had made a mistake–this KC with a .500 record did NOT deserve to the be in the postseason.
D10 stuck by their guns and told KC they were in; Coach Dodd insisted to no avail. KC therefore continued with 2 days of training and mental preparation only to learn (2 days later) that, yes, D10 had made a mistake and would be sending Eisenhower. This is not the stuff of lore or urban legend; this is D10.
This is just one example.
Before you suggest that he should have done the same this year, remember that that KC of several years ago was barely .500; this year, KC was 13-3-1.
I’m not going to argue about who should be in or not in this year, but Coach Dodd’s frustration is justified and long earned.
The players and people that sacrifice their time with these players deserve better than the amateurish approach that D10 takes to the toying of emotions and arbitrary methods it employs. This is the only thing D10 has to do; it is the only thing they have to get right, yet simple and obvious solutions elude them.
Coach Dodd’s departure is a loss for soccer and those young men he worked with and would have worked with in the future. Here’s to hope that something positive comes from this and leads to some meaningful reform in the D10 postseason process.
Maybe 7 or 8 years ago, KC was granted a playoff spot when they were not that good (maybe .500) in front of team (Eisenhower?) that had beaten them pretty badly. Bill Dodd contacted D10 and told them they had made a mistake, and that KC did not deserve to be in the tournament. Yes, he took his own team out of the tournament (if anyone else knows the details of this, please add commnets). But, D10 insisted the brackets were correct and that KC was in. After a few days of KC practice, preparation, and training, D10 contacted KC and told them they were out.
In addition to this, I’m pretty sure KC has been passed over and mislead in the more recent past too. Add all of that to the debacle of this year. And they had to travel TO ERIE to play this match?! I’m not going to get into the argument of who should be in and out, I think there have already been a few (!?!?) comments regarding that topic. But D10′s ineptitude in this process is staggering. Yet again.
The tendency, I think, is to incorrectly compare that experience of several years ago to this year and wonder why he wouldn’t do the same thing. That KC from 8 years ago was barely .500; this year’s team was something like 13-3-1. Much different.
Regardless, Bill Dodd is more than well respected as a man of integrity and compassion for his players. His absence is a loss to soccer in northwestern PA. Here’s to hoping that this helps D10 improve the only thing they have to get right and spend the time getting it right. Their incompetence and laziness has toyed with the emotions and logic of the student athletes and adults that commit themselves and their time to the game. Here, again, is to hoping that D10 begins to put in that same level of commitment and embrace some of the obvious, simple, and much needed changes.
Again, I think these are the basics of the story a few years back. If anyone else knows more, please elaborate.
Joker3000,
I believe that a few years ago they had a playoff spot that was reversed the next day. Eisenhower took their place, so it ended up being MP, Fairview, Eisenhower, and Mercer.
basically what happens with d-10 is that noone considers them as a serious soccer influence…
graduating in 2004 i had trouble trying to find a college because noone wanted to look at me as a player because i was from the mercer county area… everyone puts the erie teams and the pittsburgh teams on a pedestal…
i have known bill dodd for a long time now and it shows great courage to do what he did..and as a true soccer player, i can tell you right now that those kids understand what he is doing … as the mercer county area has never been taken seriously with soccer….
the d-10 committee is a joke..
i played during that era that bill dodd refers to, 2000-2004, i can say that we got screwed out of the playoffs as well just like kennedy did.
its a shame and hopefully something will come of this
@ NWPAFAN
“your dead wrong, this sends the absolutely wrong message to the kids by Coach Dodd. The KC coaches may feel the rules changed unfairly, and they may be right. Many times in life the circumstance change beyond our control We have choice, adapt and move on or quit. Winners learn how to adapt and move on, losers quit.”
you cant adapt to a corrupt organization…lack of communication and procedure is way beyond soccer skill and coaching…he wasnt just a coach for one year and quit…he has been part of the kc organization for some period of time now and wouldnt just quit his passion and love for a stupid reason… this has been long overdue and pure lack of disrespect on d-10′s part…
I don’t necessarly agree w/the Kennedy coach’s resigning but I admire them standing firm on their principles. Let’s face it, KC will probably lose regardless of who’s coaching. I think they are telling the kids, hey we love and support you, but D10 has shafted soccer for so many years now that we have to take a stand – a stand bigger than just Kennedy soccer. In a strange kind of way…it’s admirable.
There is no doubt D10 is to blame. No doubt. I don’t think the blame can be placed anywhere else. If they had to go back and review Fairview’s season after they picked the playoff teams….then what the heck are they “reviewing” before they pick the teams. IMO D10 is being very stubborn and egotistical. Have play in games for god’s sakes (to begin with). Why does D10 dislike putting more teams in the playoffs? It makes no sense to me.
The rules for at large teams in all sports is subjective at best. Seneca boys hoops not making it a few years ago was disgraceful. Seeding of teams is questionable. Things need to change.
Is this the misstep of D10 that finally pushes schools and citizens to force D10 into some kind of change?
I can’t wait until the next round of playoffs (VB, football) – wait until a team and their fans fill left out. They will hammer the school and D10 w/phone calls and emails in the hopes of getting in. This is painful overall. And for some reason the kids always seem to get the shaft. Shame on the PIAA for allowing this to happen.
Bravo to Coach Dodd! He has a great team that will understand that their coach is standing up for them. If you go changing rules everytime someone cries foul, then what is the point of having the rules in the first place? I think it is wrong to schedule the game on such short notice at field that is clearly not neutral! It is not only about allowing the team a few days to prepare but to allow the fans to travel to a basically home field advantage for Fairview. Both the decision to have a play-in game and schedule the game in Erie were decisions based on “majority” feelings rather than the guidelines that were already established. If they did not win their region respectively, then they did not qualify. If Fairview hadn’t played teams in other regions, would this conversation even be happening? I think not. Good luck KC boys!
I know coach Dodd… In fact I know all of the coaches in the southern part of District 10, because I am a referee. From my experence with him he has always dealt with integrity and honor. He teaches his boys to operate in the same manor. And as far as I am concerned he is one of the best coaches in the game. Not because of what he teaches them on the field but because of what he is imparting into thier lives. The boys that have been coached by him are better men because of him. Let no one say anything different because it simpley is not true.
“Rash Decision” “Coach Quits on Them” you must be joking? Coach Dodd had the guts to take a D10 stand when others would not. Im certain his players & parents know the rationale behind his stance. You’re a good man & all your supporter know that. Best of Luck. Go KC
For those in the south and some in the north that know Bill Dodds, also know he did everything but quit on his team! As the news broke, I can understand why some posters believe in phylisophical cliche’s. However, as the story unfolds we all need to understand the principle of his decision. It had nothing to do with KC vs FV and their play in game. It had everything to do with how D10 approaches their decisions based on their rules which often sends negative messages affecting all our soccer communities at one time or another…especially to the kids!
D10, I truly believe you have and are making the best possible decisions based on the knowledge you have. However, it might be time to start seeking additional and/or outside opinions that would show your proactive intentions to improve teh system for each and every sport.
Well said SC
Poor form on Dist 10 Officials.
Since when does “fan voting” have anything to do with rules on who is or isn’t in the playoffs?
Hats off to Coach Dodd for making a stand!!!
Congrats Coach Dodd for doing the right thing.
Coach Dodd’s quote from the Sharon Herald:
“…I can assure you this is not a knee jerk reaction. I discussed it carefully, thought it out. I think this is the way God wanted me to go out–doing the right thing for soccer. If nothing else happens maybe Distric 10′ll wake up for the kids. Distric 10 answers to no one. There are no guidelines, no rules –except their own…I had to make a decision about soccer, about District 10 about Mercer County. At lease I got to resin with a purpose, instead fo maybe resigning at the end of the season simply because I was tired of it. I am happy, as aremy assistants, to be able to resign with honor, in a sense, in an attack on a broken system”.
I’m only asking….not to stir a pot …..but aren’t there a few District 10 officials employed by Kennedy Catholic. Pete Iacino and Wally Blucas comes to mind. Were they part of the decision to allow Fairview to have a play-in game? Weren’t the records of both teams almost identical? I wouldn’t have wanted to keep another team out on a technicality.
I continue to see comments about the “Erie teams” getting the edge from D10. I would like to clarify that it is not all of the Erie teams. The true city public schools are contiuously given the raw end of the deal also. In case no one remembers, they were trying to end Central Techs sports program a few years ago. And if you look at the overall record of CT this year, they will be equal and better than the playoff teams in their region. The CT community made a push for them, but was told a firm NO on a playin game. It was explained to me in length and I understand the basis of the denial, but it still hurts. As for Coach Dodd, I don’t know him and will not say whether he is right or wrong. But for him to abondon his team before a game like this, I think is alittle selfish. Can you tell me that not having their coach on the sidelines with them last night would not have made a difference? I bet it would have. He may have been able to help them get their heads in the game. I would imagine it hurt those boys feelings to be abandoned. We as adults can not assume to know how that affected the boys. Maybe he should have had a heart to heart with the team and asked them how they would feel before he quit. And maybe he did, if that is the case, please correct me.
Renee,
If Coach Dod had a team meeting before making his decision that would be between him and his players. If he did not that would be between him and his players as well. It would appear that coach Dodd talked with all of the necessary people prior to this decision being made. If you would like I am sure you can obtain a copy of the Sharon Hearld in which coach Dodd granted an interview. Maybe that will provide some information that does not seem to make it very far outside of Mercer County.