"Thom used to tell me, 'You can play him on defense, but if he gets hurt, you're fired.'. Canton City Schools SuperintendentJeff Talbert reiterated the statements he gave Wednesday when he announced the coaches would face further discipline. McKinley went 14-6 in Wattley's two seasons as head coach, with a couple of second-round playoff losses and an 0-2 record against rival Massillon. Thursdays board action only affects thecoaching contracts. I just dont understand why after I said I dont eat pork, they didnt take it (the pepperoni pizza) away. All rights reserved. 3. In a separate vote Thursday, the five-member board unanimously hired Athletic Director Antonio Hall as the districts interim head football coach for the upcoming season. The Canton City school board on Thursday voted unanimously to not renew the coaching contracts of Wattley,assistant coaches Cade Brodie and Tyler Thatcher, and assistant baseball coach Romero Harris, who hasrelated weight room duties. I love them, they know that, Wattley said. 330-438-2712 Fax: 330-580-3507 Jonas Wertin, Principal wertin_j@ccsdistrict.org McKinley Quick Links McKinley Virtual Tour The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported. Canton McKinley High School Head Football Coach Marcus Wattley and five assistant coaches are suing Canton City school officials and others for spreading "false, malicious and extremely defamatory statements" that cost them their jobs and their reputations. The decision left the player, the players father, Kenny Walker, attorney Edward Gilbert, and former assistant football coach Josh Grimsley as defendants. It has left one of Ohio's most storied prep football programs working quickly to reset for its upcoming season and the Canton City School District in limbo as it awaits word on whetherthe player's familywill file a First Amendment lawsuitand whether criminal hazing chargeswill be filed against the coaches. I learned from a great man how to coach football," Wattley told media members during a Monday interview. Former McKinley football coaches dismiss defamation lawsuit, intend to refile Kelli Weir The Repository 0:00 0:57 The former Canton McKinley football coaches who have been waiting for. "I'm very excited Josh is getting another opportunity. It wont be the same without them, said Powell, a rising senior who is considered McKinley's top returning player. They needed to get through to him some other way. CANTON, Ohio The Canton City School District has fired head high school football coach Marcus Wattley and six of his assistants following an investigation into misconduct against a player. Judge John Adams found there was not enough evidence to support allegations made by legal representation of the student-athlete. Attorney Ed Gilbert, who is representing the 17-year-old football player and his family, said Thursday that he agrees with the school board's decision to dismiss the coaches, but added, There is no joy in seeing this. Canton McKinley football coach's attorney disputes claims by player. Pattakos asked Judge Haupt to reinstate the district leaders as defendants in the lawsuit, but she denied the request Wednesday, in part because the trial was to start Monday. Pattakos, on behalf of Wattley and assistant coach Frank McLeod, on Monday described a situation where the coaches were trying to rescue a troubled player whose off-the-field behavior was negatively influencing his teammates and jeopardizing his future as a Division I college athlete. He served as interim during the 2021 season. The deposition, where the player testified under oath, was conducted as part of the defamation lawsuit that the coaches filed a year ago against the player, the players father, Kenny Walker, their attorney Edward Gilbert and former assistant coach Josh Grimsley. The Ohio Department of Educations professional conduct division also is reviewing whether the coaches should retain their educational and coaching licenses. He said hes asked God for forgiveness for eating the pork residue. The former Canton McKinley football coaches who have been waiting for more than a year for a chance to clear their names in court have decided to wait a while longer. McDaniels kicked in addition to playing quarterback at McKinley when Miller coached the Bulldogs' defensive backs. Return for updates. It was along those lines, and the kid knew he was being disciplined. Now Kuberacki was Marietta's QB; McDaniels was a John Carroll receiver. Canton McKinley sophomore Dante McClellan looks to make a play at Akron East, Wed., Feb. 15, 2023 "We struggled at the rim," Vlkajkovich said. Pattakos, who said the player apologized to the coaches and showed up for the voluntary workout the next day after his punishment, blames anassistant coach for inflaming the situation by reporting an exaggerated version to administrators and the players family. … I was yelling at him, I was telling him I dont eat it because of my religion, the player said. With Josh going there now, Carr staying is a done deal.". Pattakos wrote the evidence collected during the discovery phase of the lawsuit revealed information that wasn't known when the lawsuit was filed in July 2021, including the admission by the player that didnt explicitly tell the coaches about his Hebrew Israelite beliefs and that a surveillance video the district used as the basis of its internal investigation was missing a two-minute span of time. He recounted an encounter with one of the coaches at the mall recently. Gilbert has said the family has agreed to meet with district officials before pursuing a lawsuit. And then … they start telling everyone to get around the gym with the 45-pound plates, and then they start saying if I dont eat it, then the team will have to keep doing the punishment until its all gone. Four young men in this program have been shot in this last calendar year alone, Pattakos said. We will continue to make every reasonable effort to ensure that justice is served in this case.. The Canton McKinley vs. Massillon Washington rivalry is the 13th most played rivalry in the nation, with 129 meetings between the schools. He was offered chicken (nuggets) and (told), You can sit here and eat. Example video title will go here for this video. Superintendent Jeff Talbert said it was surveillance video that gave him the information he needed to make his recommendation. and last updated 6:19 AM, Jun 02, 2021. "What I can tell you is that all of our athletes are safe, we are continuing on with our strengthening and conditioning program and we will investigate this according to our district policies. ", More Stark County sports from Steve Doerschuk: 'I know where to go and pour them': Fate of 40-year-old Hudepohl six-packs rides on Bengals winning AFC title, Super Bowl. The weekly sessions are now monthly check-ins. ", Reach Steve at steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com, This article originally appeared on The Repository: Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels stirs reactions in Canton, American football coach and executive (born 1975), 'I know where to go and pour them': Fate of 40-year-old Hudepohl six-packs rides on Bengals winning AFC title, Super Bowl, Canton council approves street name change to honor McDaniels football family, I don't think they gave him enough time in Denver, McKinley won a rematch in the playoffs two weeks later, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels stirs reactions in Canton, Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, King asks Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move out of Frogmore so Prince Andrew can move in, Biden Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene With 1 Simple Hand Gesture, A Nebraska high-school cheerleader competed on her own after the rest of her squad quit. Bulldogs logo for the Canton City School District in Ohio. At the next days workout, the player said coach Harris told him that he was going to have to apologize to the team and he agreed to do so. CANTON, Ohio (WOIO) - The whistleblower who alerted school officials about the alleged actions of Canton McKinley High School coaches said he was unfairly . Monica A. Coleman, a theologian and professor of Africana studies at the University of Delaware, said someHebrew Israelites do consider themselves to be Jewish. The score stayed 12-3. Team Statistics. This young man wasnt forced to eat anything, Pattakos said. The incident made international headlines and has spawned three lawsuits. He said coach Brodie told him to take off the pepperoni. CANTON, Ohio (WJW)- The family of a McKinley High School football player is calling for more action after it says the head coach forced the teen to eat a pizza. So I just went with it and went to the contest, the player testified. School board president John "J.R." Rinaldi said Hall will continue to serve as the district's athletic director and will work with the district's administrative team to build his football staff. McKinley went 14-6 in Wattleys two seasons as head coach, with a couple of second-round playoff losses and an 0-2 record against rival Massillon. Sure, I would have loved it if he had been head coach of the Browns, but I'm glad he has this opportunity. He said the student had stopped regularly communicating with his coaches, had left workouts early, and had been acting disrespectfully to coaches. "I ran around the corner seeing nothing but open space. Frank McLeod, one of the assistant coaches who was dismissed, on Tuesday said he believes the district's surveillance video clears the coaches. "Josh was a coach on the field. No Bulldogs coachs tenure has spanned more than five years since Thom McDaniels guided the program from 1982-1997. CANTON McKinley High School head football coach Antonio Hall has built quite a rapport with the Bowling Green coaching staff. "What is on that video shows that what happened on May 24 is an ill-mannered attempt to instill accountability and discipline in our students," Talbert said. GlenOak 22. McKinley football player Mani Powell said he wants his coaches back. 3 Nordonia (17-5), 7 p.m. Saturday . 0:36. 2023 www.cantonrep.com. This was about something much bigger.. McKinley started the shortened 2020 COVID season 3-0 before losing three of its final five games. … I still have visuals of them yelling at me and stuff to eat it, and I felt like my religion didnt matter to them, and they threw it out the window, and I told them I didnt eat it and they made me feel some type of way.. Motley played at Canton McKinley High School, which is on the Hall of Fame Village's campus. The Canton Repository has agreed to not name the 17-year-old player, who has received interest from Division I colleges. Example video title will go here for this video. "I don't think they gave him enough time in Denver. The Rev. My job is in the courtroom, not the press room.. Canton family's faith at the center of McKinley High football coach abuse allegations, Head football coach Marcus Wattley, six others dismissed for misconduct. McDaniels previously served as the wide receivers . Canton McKinley pizza scandal: Judge dismisses former football coaches from lawsuit. That set up a touchdown. The Bulldogs went 9-3 in Wattley's first year,. The player, whom the Repository has agreed to not identify,has been devastated by the situation and continues to undergo psychological counseling, the attorney said. McLeods disciplinary hearing with school officials over his job as a safety and security liaison was held earlier Monday. Gilbert said the family has delayed filing its lawsuit because the district has asked to mediate the dispute out of court. That's why he is going to be successful in Vegas. He said he missed some workouts because he was getting paid to do yard work for a coachs friend, a woman at his moms church and his grandfather. Theyve run plenty of sprints. You can read Judge Adams' dismissal ruling below: Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. June 5, 2021, 1:55 PM PDT. The coach was trying to teach a lesson.". June 4, 2021 A high school football coach in Canton, Ohio, and six assistant coaches will not have their athletic contracts renewed, officials said, after an allegation was made that a. He wasnt forced to eat pork. Black Jews, who maintain a Christological perspective and adopt Jewish rituals. Learning what he learned from his first time, applying all the knowledge he's gained since then, it's just the perfect equation for success.". Claim this team Ways you can help Make an impact on this team, and help keep MaxPreps up-to-date. He was asked to accept this form of a lesson. You want special treatment? In an email to 3News, Canton City Schools says its administrative team received a report of an incident that took place on Monday, May 24, during McKinley footballs strength and conditioning practice. Canton McKinley Bulldogs. Key players: P/E Horace Gillom, HB Tommy James, OL Jim Russell. The students said the playerhas since apologized to them and to the coaches. Allegations that the court says "lumped all the former coaches together without distinguishing the allegations against each individual. "He's proven he's a hell of a coach," Rose said. A native of Canton, Ohio, President McKinley was the last president to have served in the American Civil War and is assassinated in 1901. . Six former Canton-McKinley High School football coaches have filed a civil lawsuit alleging district leaders and a player's father and attorney defamed them, damaged their reputations and caused . Nordonia, 11-13 last year, was looking to also avenge a 58-42 loss last year to McKinley as a 19th seed in the . McDaniels is a significant donor. Canton McKinley Bulldogs 2022 high school football preview, online post that accompanies the transcripts, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. But of course, we don't know they acted as a group. He always pushes the envelope forward. Following the vote to relieve Wattley of his duties, the board confirmed athletic director Antonio Hall will serve as interim head football coach for the 2021 season. He emphasized that the player had the ability to leave at any time and had the option of selecting an alternative food that did not contain pork. Wattley, who was hired as McKinley's coach in 2019, said he misses his players. Two days after Grimsley sent the message, the district suspended Grimsley, Wattley and six other assistant coaches while it investigated allegations of misconduct before firing Wattley, Grimsley and five other coaches on June 3. CANTONWhat Canton City school officials called a misguided attempt to instill discipline has led to the firingof McKinley High School head football coach Marcus Wattley and six of his assistant coaches. The player said in his rush to eat the pizza so his teammates could stop the workout sooner, he believes he left some cheese on the pizza. He said thedistricts nearly weeklong investigation found that the coaches on May 24 engaged in actions that were deemed"inappropriate, demeaning and divisive" during a non-mandatory strengthening and conditioning workout in the high schools auxiliary gym. Attorney Edward Gilbert, who is representing the 17-year-old player at the center of the controversyand his family, on June 14 released the surveillance video that was taken on May 24 when the family says Wattley and his staff forced the player to eat an entire pepperoni pizza against his Hebrew Israelite religious beliefs as punishment for missing a voluntary workout. He went on to play at the University of Kentucky and in the Canadian Football League with Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatchewan. Powell said Wattley and all of the assistant coaches have becomefather figures to him and his teammates. Dan Reardon has been named Canton McKinley High School's new head football coach. Coaching career. Kuberacki went on to a fascinating Air Force career that is its own story. DIVISION I STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. 11, 2021 at 4:07 PM PDT. They have said the player chose to pick the pepperoni off the pizza and eat it. 7 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. McKinley Football Staff Players (57) Staff (1) Antonio Hall Head Coach Are you the coach? "Looking back," Hall said, "Cleveland wasn't the right time or the right place. But it wasnt until roughly five years later when the player, then in eighth grade, started to strictly follow the faiths dietary restrictions. McKinley went 14-6 in Wattleys two seasons as head coach, with a couple of second-round playoff losses and an 0-2 record against rival Massillon. The attorney alsoblamesthe Canton City School District for conducting a rushed and incomplete investigation, an accusation the district denies. Melt Bar & Grilled closes 2 Ohio locations, Ohio Gov. A roughly two-hour disciplinary hearing was held Monday with Canton City school officials about whether Wattley should retain his job as a district academic and athletic liaison. A high school football coach and six assistant coaches McKinley Senior High School in Canton, Ohio, have been fired after they allegedly forced a player to eat pork against his religious beliefs . I just always told them whenever they bought food and stuff, I told them I dont eat pork and left it at that, he said. See below to read the full 10-page ruling from Judge Adams: Copyright 2022 WOIO. Overall, he was a coach for 40-years and was named to the Ohio high school coaches hall of fame. No. In 2018, Dungy sharply criticized Josh McDaniels for backing out of a head coaching opportunity with the Colts, which is part of the complex national narrative. He was one of several football players who attended the disciplinary hearing Monday to show their support for Wattley. . It is a substantial piece of justice for the coaches that they are very grateful for.". The most important thing for Mr. Wattley at this point is that the truth comes out so that his name is cleared of these ridiculous charges against him, and we will make sure that happens. Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com. He's only saidthe districts completed internal investigation has found that the coaches "engaged in actions that constituted inappropriate, demeaning and divisive behavior in a misguided attempt to instill discipline in the student-athletes.". Pro Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for . In a letter shared with 3News Investigator Rachel Polansky, Canton City Schools informed Wattley of his placement on administrative leave on Wednesday. CANTON A shortened fall camp and two abbreviated scrimmages left Mentor football coach Matt Gray a little unsure what he had in his 2021 football team heading into the season opener Aug.. The lawyer representing the students family did not immediately return 19 News request for comment. There was no intent (to cause harm), Pattakos said. Box Score. He always tries to make the people around him better. Wattley, through his attorney Peter Pattakos, saidthe accusations that thecoaches forced a 17-year-old player to eat an entire pepperoni pizza against his Hebrew Israelite religious beliefs for missing a voluntary May 20 strengthening and conditioning workoutarefalse and exaggerated. Many religious traditions, including smaller traditions that are not well-known to a wider Western public,have food prohibitions and it would be a considerable religiousviolation to force someone to eat something that is considered a religious taboo.". McLeods disciplinary hearing with school officials over his job as a safety and security liaison was held earlier Monday. Add the football angle of Massillon-Hoban and this is a can't miss. Calling Wattley a "rising star,"Pattakos said Wattley is heartbroken to be away from his team but he believes he did nothing wrong. I told them that I was smoking marijuana because I didnt want them to know that I was smoking Black & Milds because I thought Black & Milds was worse than marijuana, the player testified. Gilberts attorney, Stephen P. Griffin, declined comment. No Bulldogcoachs tenure has spanned more than five years since Thom McDaniels guided the program from 1982-1997. Wattley's attorney Peter Pattakostold The Canton Repository on Mondaythat Wattley and the assistant coaches were trying to rescue a troubled player whose off-the-field behavior was negatively influencing his teammates and jeopardizing his future as a Division I college athlete. Gilbert said the player told the coach at least 10 times that he did not eat pork because he and his family are Hebrew Israelites, a faith thatstrictly forbids the consumption of pork or pork residue. Antonio Hall was named head coach of the McKinley High School football team on Monday. 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