I would like to take a minute to write a little something about
what is going on with the Gavilan College softball team. Some of
you have probably heard about the problems that the softball
program is now facing. The head coach Tim Kenworthy did not receive
tenure for unknown reasons or reasons beyond belief upon
evaluations done by the athletic director and/or other
administration.
Editor,
I would like to take a minute to write a little something about what is going on with the Gavilan College softball team. Some of you have probably heard about the problems that the softball program is now facing. The head coach Tim Kenworthy did not receive tenure for unknown reasons or reasons beyond belief upon evaluations done by the athletic director and/or other administration. Tenure: meaning the status of holding one’s position on a permanent basis without periodic contract renewals.
Coach Kenworthy has done a tremendous job. I can say that from personal experience. He was my coach when I played at Gavilan during the 2002 and 2003 seasons. These were his first two years there. He took over in the fall of 2001 (after not having softball at Gavilan for a couple years) and fielded a full roster by December. We had a wonderful year. In between my first and second season’s Coach Kenworthy and Assistant Coach Bruce built, with no help from the school nor athletic department, a brand new softball facility (new paint job, batting cages, cement block dugouts, storage shed/snack shack, and new up-to-date red dirt infield). This was possible thanks to many hard-working volunteers and lots of donations. Coach K made something – including a winning ball club – out of nothing! My sophomore year we finished third behind two of the best teams in the state.
The two years that I played, we enjoyed Coach K very much, his optimistic attitude and his knowledge about softball – lots of knowledge! I would not be where I am today without the hard work and dedication of Coach Kenworthy and Assistant Coach Bruce Nicholson.
After leaving Gavilan College, I received a scholarship to play softball at the university level. He was so helpful in writing a letter of recommendation, and bringing me to check out the school and talk with the coach. Now here I sit, at Patten University finishing my senior season and getting close to graduation. If it wasn’t for Coach K, I would have not had the opportunity to be where I am at this moment.
So why would this man who has done great things for Gavilan athletics not be tenured? Yes, something does need to be re-evaluated and it’s definitely not the women’s softball coach because the program he built is going strong in the right direction. As of today, April 7, Gavilan softball is 7-5 in league in third place. Let me leave you, the reader, with some recent headlines:
Lady Rams have power to beat Cabrillo
Lady Rams improve to 5-5 in CCS
Lady Rams pound out 20-1 victory
Rams score big in Tulare
And just think, somebody out there wants to get rid of such a good thing … hmmmm … proud to be an alumni Gavilan softballer.
Melissa Nicholson
