Coach told it was in the best interest of the team, plans on
meeting with lawyer
HOLLISTER
Erica Richardson, who began coaching the San Benito High boys’ volleyball team just last year, was fired from her head coaching position last week, although it’s not entirely apparent for the reason why.
When called by the Free Lance to discuss last Thursday’s match against Monterey, Richardson said she had been terminated on Monday, when, at that point, the Balers had seven matches remaining in the regular season.
“They said it was in the best interest of the team,” said Richardson, who received the news from Director of Human Resources Shawn Tennenbaum.
San Benito is currently holding down second place in the TCAL with a 9-2 record, 17-5 overall.
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Richardson, 26, said she was called in to human resources on Monday, April 4. She was told that, “due to an incident with a family,” the school has opted to go in another direction with the program.
“That’s all they gave me. That’s all I got,” she said.
The former head coach said she’s only had one incident with a family this year, and it resulted in a parent-coach meeting some three weeks into the season to discuss playing time and the player’s position.
Since then, though, Richardson said she hasn’t had any interaction with the family.
She plans on meeting with a lawyer on Tuesday.
Calls made to Tennenbaum and Principal Krystal Lomanto were not returned at press time.
“I’m not angry. I’m just really disappointed,” Richardson said. “It’s not right. We have a very strong team. We’ve grown so much together.
“We’ve made some real progress, so it’s a real bummer. I just didn’t think it was really fair.”
Junior varsity head coach Sam Klauer, a 2010 graduate of SBHS and former Baler volleyball player, has since taken over the head coaching duties of the varsity program in Richardson’s absence.
Athletic Director Tod Thatcher said he was unable to comment on the situation, calling it a “personnel” issue.
“At this point, I can’t comment,” he said. “But I know coach Klauer is gonna do a great job.”
Thatcher said the coaching vacancy will be opened up once the season is complete.
Regarding the incident, Richardson said she has a firm lineup for when the Balers are competing in key league games, like when the team squares off against first-place Gilroy, for instance. Otherwise, the players are allowed to try out different positions, with opposites playing on the outside, outside hitters playing setter, and setters playing either opposite or on the outside.
Only two players rotate around the court during key games, though, with everyone else designated a specific spot in either the front or back row.
“I explained that to them,” Richardson said.
“We mix it up. We’ll do it all the time,” she added. “But in the bigger games, it’s a set lineup. As strong as we can, that’s the goal.”
Since being let go, Richardson said she has received support from at least three players and three parents.
Taking over the Balers beginning in the 2009-10 season for Luis Espinoza, who stepped down following the 2009 campaign in order to complete his teaching credential, Richardson has had previous coaching stints at Mountain View and Anzar, as well as with club teams in Watsonville and Santa Cruz.
It was Espinoza who recommended Richardson for the position.
In her first year, the Balers fell short of advancing to the postseason, despite compiling a 14-11 overall record, 12-4 in the TCAL.
This season, San Benito has managed to hold down second place, with its two league losses coming against Gilroy, which is in first place in the Valley Division, and Monterey, which is in first place in the Coastal Division.
The team split its matches last week, defeating Gonzales on Tuesday but falling to Monterey in five sets on Thursday.
“This definitely isn’t right,” Richardson said. “If it was right, I’d let it go. But this is wrong.”
