Girls hoops coaches Duff, Pepe won't be rehired

The Whitefish School District board May 14 approved a list of renewals for extra-curricular coaches for 2013-14. Left blank were the positions of Whitefish High School head and assistant girls basketball coaches.

The district intends to advertise to fill those and a few other open coaching positions.

Head coach Sean Duff and assistant Megan Pepe were previously told their contracts would not be renewed. Last month players and parents spoke in support of the coaches and asked that they be allowed to continue in their positions. Duff also asked to remain.

He said that while the team continues to struggle, the coaches and players have been working hard to return the program to a winning tradition. The girls basketball team has won eight games total in the four seasons Duff had been head coach. They finished the 2013 season 1-19 overall and 1-7 in the conference.

Freshman girls coach Clint Peters was rehired.

Last week former boys basketball coach Julio Delgado addressed the school board saying that Duff is “being wronged.”

“Duff not being rehired is extremely disappointing,” he said. “He has not heard from his detractors and not heard why he’s being let go. The board is not paying attention to the 60 to 70 people who spoke on his behalf.”

Delgado said the coaches should unionize because nobody should be fired without reason.

“Who in the world would want to coach under these conditions?” he asked.

The school board did not make any comments, but unanimously approved the list of coaches.

In addition to the girls basketball coaching positions, those listed for advertisement are assistant cheerleading coach, pep band, student council advisors and freshman football coaches.