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Fitzhenry, Student’s Mother Sound Off on Coach’s Resignation

Posted/updated on: October 28, 2013 at 3:52 pm
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fitzlnjLONGVIEW — Both sides of the story continue to be heard after Pine Tree head football coach and Athletic Director Derek Fitzhenry recently resigned under fire. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Fitzhenry claims he’s been lied to, lied about, and “crucified” for events that were misconstrued. Fitzhenry blamed an atmosphere of secrecy he says was created by the district, with officials allegedly failing to confirm fact or deny fiction, for the three-month saga that led to his departure. And he said what district officials told him in private failed to match what they later said in public.

Regarding a key incident involving physical contact with a student, Fitzhenry said the situation stemmed from his intent to remind players who were “cutting up” that they needed to focus on the task ahead of them, which was the football game. According to Fitzhenry, the incident never escalated to him throwing or shoving a student, as rumors would have it.

But according to KETK, the student’s mother said, in part, “My son was asked to go get a medical bag out of the locker room for the trainers to use. When he entered the room, Fitzhenry was walking out and grabbed my son by the arms and pushed him out the door. When he did this, he also hit a female trainer and almost knocked her over. I have four witness statements from that incident and was given a public apology by Fitzhenry for the incident. We are the real victims in this situation, not him. I’m just glad it is all over now.”

The TV station received numerous calls over the past three months from people who had witnessed what they called “shocking” actions by Fitzhenry. These allegedly included degrading and cursing at athletes and staff members, both privately and publicly, and denying students medical treatment after injuries. The school district has declined comment, calling the matter “a personnel issue” on which it is “legally and ethically bound not to provide details.”



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