Posted by George - Tue, Jun 12, 2012, 8:00 A

TFHS Athletics

Mullins deserves better

Gary Mullins guided Turners Falls High School to its ninth consecutive WMass softball championship Saturday.

With that type of success — not to mention the positive attention garnered by a school that can use it — one might think school administrators would have open arms to keeping the longtime coach, athletic director and teacher around after retirement. But that doesn’...t seem to be the case, and much of the Powertown faithful is fired up.

Mullins recently retired as a teacher but wanted to stay on as athletic director. Unfortunately for him, because the athletic director job and teaching position are linked (with each considered a part-time job and then linked together to form a full-time position), Mullins was informed by e-mail that he would not be considered. Dismayed, but not surprised, Mullins then hoped to at least remain coach of the boys’ basketball and softball teams in these days of so many non-faculty high school coaches. With his track record, wouldn’t you think school officials would be searching for a creative way to keep him around? It appears that those involved are taking the opposite approach.

Mullins, a Hatfield native and Turners Falls resident, has already been informed by school officials that it’s unlikely he will be retained as boys’ basketball coach. Although he’s been told he can apply for both jobs, there’s a possibility he might get locked out.

About 50 people turned out at the school committee meeting last Tuesday to support the man who’s devoted 33 years to the school, all of them as softball coach and 27 or 28 as boys’ hoops coach.

The battle between townspeople interested in retaining Mullins and school administration is not likely to be resolved any time soon, especially considering that the group is getting stonewalled as it tries to get on the School Committee agenda. The group was denied an agenda slot last week, and despite taking what they believed were the correct steps for getting on tonight’s agenda, it again seems that they have been rebuffed. The only way for the group to be heard tonight is if a committee member makes a motion and the committee has a majority vote to allow it.

With so much attention being paid to this matter, it would seem like a no-brainer to address the case, unless, of course, the School Committee and administration simply do not want to deal with the controversy it has created. There seem to be plenty of excuses being thrown around to avoid answering questions, but no effort to provide a clear explanation.

Mullins deserves better. Perhaps he should be told that they have no choice due to school policy, or maybe some other justifiable reason. Silence and evasion won’t cut it, will only cloud the controversy; and, yes, calling this fiasco controversial may be an understatement.

A large group of supporters is expected to attend tonight’s 7 o’clock meeting at the high school, and members encourage anyone interested to turn out and support the popular, iconic coach.

But I’ll stay out of this. It’s not about me. The student-athletes at the school are the ones who should be heard. And it just so happens that they are more than willing to chime in. After the initial meeting last Tuesday, a group of concerned softball players showed up on The Recorder doorstep and two of them — fresh graduates Haley Ozdarski and Sam Caouette — were back again on Monday to discuss their perspective on the irritating situation.

First, they addressed the hard work and dedication Mullins puts into the program to create the dynasty. The two explained that he not only inspires hard work at practice, but also works hard, himself, away from the field to make the team better. From moving players around to different positions to working with each player to concentrate on individual needs, to being blunt and honest with everyone on the team, both Mullins supporters said it’s no secret why the Indians have established a model high school program: its coach.

“People don’t come into the program as superstars,” Ozdarski said. “He makes you into a great player. He molds you and works with you. And everyone else may see one thing, but coach Mullins can see something else.”

See MULLINS Page B4

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Jason Butynski

Jaywalking

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Recorder/Mike Phillips

Gary Mullins’ record as a softball coach is peerless in western Massachusetts and beyond, but that doesn’t seem to matter to a school administration that’s resistant to keeping him on as a coach after retirement this year as a teacher.

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? Mullins

From Page B1

Caouette elaborated further: “You see people come in and they are so much better by the time they finish. He figures out what your special skills are and applies them.”

Both girls said that many of the players on the team have played multiple positions, and gave numerous examples. At times, both admitted that moves have been made that they may have been unsure of, but in the end it always seems that Mullins, a Massachusetts State Softball Coaches Hall of Fame inductee, makes the right decisions.

“We joke with (eighth-grader and starting second baseman Jenna Putala) that by the time she’s done, she will have played every position on the field,” Caouette said.

During an hour’s interview, both players gave countless examples of the hard work that Mullins puts in behind the scenes. From scouting opponents, to watching the younger players play, Mullins is constantly trying to make himself and his team better.

Both girls also stated the number of life lessons they have been taught by Mullins, things that cannot be learned in a classroom, such things as sportsmanship whether winning or losing, which both placed high on the list. The duo even talked about Caouette high-fiving Hampshire Regional High School’s Jenelle Gorman as she rounded first base after hitting a walk-off home run to beat Turners in the regularseason finale this year.

Both players thought that if Mullins did not return, it would mark the beginning of a decline that Caouette referred to as “the last really good thing at our school.” The two players thought future players would quit playing or move to another school to play.

In the end, each player simply said that removing Mullins from the coaching position would be unfortunate for the younger players coming up. Both said that they can remember being younger and seeing the high school team win a Western Mass. and state championship. As young softball players, each girl can remember expressing a desire to get to that level some day and compete for their own WMass and state titles. That dream has been realized by both, and they hope the same can hold true for future Indians.

“Everyone wants to play for Gary,” Caouette began. “Everyone wants to be at that level some day.”

“(Future players) deserve to have as good of a program as we did,” Ozdarski said. “He’s never had a losing season, he’s won five state championships, countless Western Mass. titles, and he was recently recognized by ESPN (in an article that appeared on ESPNBoston.com). Why would our school want to get rid of him?”

She’s not the only one asking that question.

Jason Butynski is a Greenfield native and Recorder sportswriter. His email address is jbutynski@recorder.com.

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Recorder/Mike Phillips

Turners Falls softball coach Gary Mullins has extraordianry rapport with his teams, which respect his winning results.See More