By Matthew Nguyen, Staff Writer
Just days before their last league game against Newport Harbor on Oct. 26, Baron football players learned their varsity defensive lineman coach had been fired.
Later, word spread among the team that the entire junior varsity coaching staff had also been let go.
The news produced a shock wave that rippled through the entire roster, splitting the team down the middle.
Angered by the unforeseen firings, many players decided to sit out of the game against Newport Harbor to make a statement.
“We had an unfortunate drama episode during the week, and, somehow, some way, our team became divided,” said Coach Jimmy Nolan after the game in an interview with Baron News reporters. “A lot of our younger classmen decided that they didn’t want to play tonight…careful what you wish for because they won’t be welcomed back.”
More players joined the protest the week after when the team was set to travel to face Santa Ana in their first C.I.F. playoff game.
The players stated they refused to return to the program until the fired coaches were brought back into the staff, or head coach Nolan was fired from the program.
Nolan says his players remain his first priority.
“I just hope for the kids’ sake, that a lot of the—I guess you could call it—unfortunate selfishness with the adults goes away. And we realize this is about the kids,” said Nolan.
11/13/18: This article was edited to correct factual errors and make clarifications.
