Concerns from Girls’ Soccer Players, Parents After Head Coach’s Departure
KEVIN KONG
Sports Editor
WILLIAM RODRIGUEZ
Staff Writer
Following a violation, girls’ soccer Head Coach, Armando Gutierrez, resigned on Sept. 5. Gutierrez, who first coached the team in 2010, ended his last year by leading them to an undefeated season and Almont League Title.
After his departure, a meeting was held on Sept. 11 by Principal Duane Russell, Assistant Principal Phuong Nguyen and Athletics Director Gerald DeSantis in order to inform parents and students of what had transpired. The meeting was also intended to allow parents and students to speak about their feelings towards the resignation. The athletes, in support of Gutierrez, donned T-shirts with the words “Save our coach!” and spoke about the personal influence that Gutierrez had on the team.
“Gutierrez has told me many things that have given me spirit. My whole perspective on my sickness changed when I had him by my side,” former AHS student and soccer player Alyssa Castro said.
According to DeSantis, Gutierrez had violated a district regulation that was created in response to a settlement involving Alhambra Unified School District’s (AUSD) Title IX policy. Title IX is a federal educational code that is meant to ensure equal opportunity in athletics. DeSantis explained that in 2005, a lawsuit arose after the softball team recognized a disparity in funding when the baseball team received a new field.
According to JustPlayNow.org, the 2005 lawsuit, Cruz v. Alhambra Unified School District, resulted in a settlement in which district regulations were put into place. The regulations covered fundraising and trust accounts, equal participation opportunities, equal expenditures, the creation of two new softball fields, equal access to facilities and competition and equal access to qualified coaches. However, administrators expressed that because the resignation was a personnel matter, they were not able to disclose information about the specific violation and the investigation that took place.
“When it comes to Title IX, there are no grey areas. [Gutierrez] was very understanding of what happened. In conclusion, our coach resigned. He isn’t coming back [and] we know it was a huge setback, but we need to move forward,” Russell said.
However, several continued to agree that Gutierrez was a vital part of the team’s success.
“He is why [players] come back. I would like to know exactly what was violated. I feel like we’re all being hurt. A discussion needs to be had, not a resignation,” parent Sylvia Covarrubias said.
Players also felt frustration after the meeting had concluded.
“I felt like the meeting was disrespectful [because Russell] ended it early. I do feel it was pointless because he did not let us finish what we had to say and he didn’t give any answers at all,” senior soccer player Danelie Solis said.
Although cited officially as personnel matter, Gutierrez claimed his resignation came after a parent from the team mishandled funds when purchasing T-shirts to celebrate the girls’ Almont League Title. The parent, according to Gutierrez, threatened to sue the school, blaming him for the financial mismanagement. The coach said he was confronted by administrators, but was not told of the specific violation.
“[Being that] I was the treasurer of the soccer program, I should’ve been informed [of the transgressions] and investigated on [who mishandled the funds],” junior soccer player Vivyana Prado said.
Following Sept. 11, further concerns were presented at an AUSD board meeting on Sept. 16. According to Prado, seven athletes and parents read a letter to the board that covered why they believed the district should allow Gutierrez to come back. The letter, signed by the parents of the AHS soccer program, focused on how they felt the situation was handled unprofessionally by administrators. When asked to comment on the allegations against administration, Russell declined. The present athletes and parents requested another meeting to be held by Sept. 23 with the district board and superintendent so that the issue could be further discussed. However, the district board did not respond to the request. If Gutierrez is not rehired in the near future, several players have claimed that they will quit the team, adversely affecting other athletic programs as the school must keep a certain balance between the number of boys’ and girls’ athletics due to Title IX.
Gutierrez decided to resign in order to prevent a mark on his coaching license and is currently coaching at Rio Hondo College. Although several high schools have offered him a coaching job, he would still be willing to return to his former position if given the opportunity.
“I hope that [the girls] will always remember the history we created together, that we are a team in a shape of a heart beating one beat at a time, that is not about the knock down [as it] is about the get up,” Gutierrez said.