Parents and students took to the Madison County School Board meeting Monday night to express their feelings regarding the recent removal of a head coach.
In August, varsity softball coach John Jenkins was removed from his position due to what he said was his win-loss record. The team went 3-17 last season overall and 3-9 in the district. In addressing the board, Jenkins said in a July 28 meeting with athletic director Tim Tryon a lack of progress for the team was expressed along with concerns in the community about the program. Jenkins, who took the job in 2022, said the team has progressed, improving batting averages with players working hard both in and out of the season to make strides.
“The young ladies I’ve coached over the last four years are amazing,” he said. “They work hard and try their best.”
Jenkins said the varsity team can only be as good as the junior varsity team coming up, which has had three losing years.
Brian Aylor agreed. He said of the six major sports programs at the high school only one, boys soccer, shows consistent competitiveness at the regional level. He questioned the state of athletics and said the junior varsity program has no stability suggesting annual reporting of each program.
“Audit the pipeline,” he said. “Support good coaches. [Jenkins] is excellent. I can personally speak on his behalf. He truly cares.”
Former player Isabelle Morehead also voiced support for Jenkins. She said his support for the players and commitment to their growth went well beyond what any coach could be expected to do, noting he wasn’t just about the player’s growth on the field, but also off.
“He’s a mentor, supporter and true role model,” Morehead said. “It’s truly disheartening that MCPS prioritizes winning records over the dedication a coach brings.
“High school softball is only four years, but the impact Coach Jenkins has on players will last a lifetime,” she added. “He teaches qualities that will last long beyond the field.”
Former MCHS player and current Eastern Mennonite University player Meaghan Dean said she wouldn’t be where she is today without Jenkins.
“He pushed me to work harder, not just on the field, but in life,” she said. “He built more than a softball team, he built a family.”
Dean said a better foundation needs to be built at the junior varsity level, saying Jenkins often receives players who don’t know how to throw or catch properly.
“It’s a program issue,” she said. “How can you expect to win games when so much time has to be spent teaching basics?”
Shaun Currie also pointed to issues with the junior varsity program, saying his daughter didn’t learn anything but how to make Tiktoks.
“I think there’s a greater root issue that needs to be handled and John needs to be given his job back,” he said.
School board member Charlie Sheads also voiced his support for Jenkins.
“In four years, I’ve never had so many come up and speak positively about [a person],” he said. “Thank you John for all that you’ve done and I hope we can make it continue.”
School board member Greg Martz agreed.
“Coach Jenkins, it’s admirable the amount of people who speak about your impact and character,” he said. “It’s tremendous to see the impact you’ve had in this community and I hope you continue to do so.”
School board member Christopher Wingate suggested creating an athletics advisory committee.
“We’ve seen the goodness of [advisory committees] in other areas,” he said. “Madison County cares about sports. How do we build the programs? I watch baseball; some of the most talented players play travel, they don’t play on the high school team. We need to respond to that and reach down into fifth grade and build a pipeline.”
It remains to be seen what will happen with the varsity softball coach position. Superintendent Anna Graham said coaching recommendations and reappointments are brought to the school board for approval based on the athletic director’s recommendation. She said the head softball coach position will be open for applications soon.
