Board votes against benching football coach

Boundary County School District Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to keep Ed DePriest as Bonners Ferry High School’s head football coach for 2009.

The board made no comment about its decision, but parents Claine and Teresa Skeen, whose son, Austin, plays on the team, were pleased.

“I’d like to thank the school board for letting the public speak,” said Claine Skeen, who understood the issues surrounding DePriest’s future were related to his apparent inability to follow the rules and orders.

“They (the school board) really sat down and looked at this community,” Claine Skeen said. “I think they made a very important decision.”

DePriest, who has coached the Badgers for two seasons and teaches physical education at the high school, requested a hearing before the school board after learning his coaching job was at stake. During the hearing on Jan. 20, the board listened to pleas to keep DePriest from some of the 80 players, parents and fans in attendance.

After everyone spoke, the board along with DePriest, high school principal Curt Randall-Bayer and vice-principal and athletic director Ted Reynolds went behind closed doors for three hours to discuss the matter. The procedure is allowed by law.

The board voted Tuesday to keep DePriest

“I’m very pleased we have the opportunity to continue what we started with the kids,” DePriest said Wednesday morning. “It’s all about the kids.”

He didn’t want to say much about the reasons for his possible release.

“I don’t think we really need to get into the X’s and O’s of it,” DePriest said. “It’s not about wins and losses. No matter what business you’re in. There’s going to be issues of disagreement at times and those issues can cause this kind of situation. I believe that has been worked out.

Bayer and Reynolds did not return a phone call.

Although the board, Reynolds and DePriest have never talked publicly about what led to not renewing DePriest’s coaching contract, the Skeens shared their insights.

In addition to DePriest not being able to follow the rules, Teresa Skeen had understood that some felt DePriest was unfair to players.

Teresa Skeen begged to differ.

“He has their best interest at heart and is completely dedicated to their ability to play and their scholastics,” she said.

DePriest was suspended from a game last fall. Although DePriest and Reynolds never said why, parents of players indicated in a letter to The Herald it was because one week earlier DePriest allowed some of his varsity players to play in a Priest River junior varsity game for one quarter against the wishes of administrators.

Pat Murphy, whose son,  Kyle is a sophomore center and right tackle, was happy with the board’s decision.

“He’s a good coach and good teacher and good mentor,” Murphy said.

Sophomore defensive back Taylor Tompke, who spoke on DePriest’s behalf during the hearing, also was pleased.

“He’s really dedicated,” Tompke said.

Sophomore lineman Austin Skeen echoed Tompke.

“He’s great,” Austin Skeen said. “He’s so dedicated to us.”