Stefano out as Maple Grove Coach

BodyShots · Post by **BodyShots** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 4:57 pm

Just saw it posted on KARE11.com

supertacks · Post by **supertacks** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:12 pm

The one statement that just drives me nuts from the article is the below:

[As the team continued playing hockey, the school district also took its own poll – asking the teams’ players for their views “on their confidence in the entire coaching team’s ability to continue leading the team for the rest of the season.” The school district would not reveal the results of the poll, but Stefano continued as coach.]

How about asking the kids if they have lost confidence in their PARENTS AND/OR TEACHERS ability to teach them the difference between right and wrong. If my kid ever did what these kids were alleged to have done (away from the rink), I gotta go way down the list before I start blaming their coach!

old goalie85 · Post by **old goalie85** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:27 pm

How in the h-ll can this be the coaches fault ???? I feel bad for guys that want to go into coaching. To many f-up parents out there.

Nobodyonya · Post by **Nobodyonya** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:55 pm

Then people wonder why some of the good coaches stop coaching. Damn parents breathing down there neck cuz little johnny is not getting ice time etc.! Stefano can step into any High School coaching job with open arms! The hell with Maple Grove! Just because 1 player made a wrong decision they take it out on the coach, huh! Maybe I don't know all the facts with Stefano's involvement, but if they quickly reinstated him a day later after his suspension, obviously there was no wrong doing! Oh ya, let's get all the players together and interview them regarding Stefano! Another good idea! Heck the players are the ones that caused this disruption and the board is asking the players that were involved also?? If, they decide to let Stefano go because he over see's the players actions (b.s.), doesn"t the board over see Stefano? They should be fired too!! Let's clean house from top to bottom not just STEFANO!! Sorry for the ranting, but Stefano is NOT responsible for anyone for there own private entertainment off the ice on there own personal time! What punishment do the involved players parents receive???? Starts at home people

clojacks1 · Post by **clojacks1** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:57 pm

Aren't you all overlooking the possibility that the players supported Stephano in your rants?

Nobodyonya · Post by **Nobodyonya** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:24 pm

clojacks1 wrote:Aren't you all overlooking the possibility that the players supported Stephano in your rants?

Yes, I did take that into consideration. Not only are they losing Stefano there maybe other voluntary/transfer departures down the road

MNhockeyNut · Post by **MNhockeyNut** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:26 pm

He should have been removed a long time a go!

hockey21 · Post by **hockey21** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 8:19 pm

MNhockeyNut you must of had a kid who was not skilled enough to play at MG you seem to have a strong point of view. Gary is a great hockey coach and it is to bad you can't see that because you feel you and your kid were wronged. Gary will land on his feet somewhere.

MNpuckBlog · Post by **MNpuckBlog** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 8:36 pm

hockey21 wrote:MNhockeyNut you must of had a kid who was not skilled enough to play at MG you seem to have a strong point of view. Gary is a great hockey coach and it is to bad you can't see that because you feel you and your kid were wronged. Gary will land on his feet somewhere.

I don't know anyone personally who has played for him so it's tough to say. But until the last couple of years they've lost in sections to teams that were just flat out better (aside from 2011 when Blaine's goaltender stole the game). They have had plenty of good teams though, so he can't be so bad where they think he is holding them back.

shotfromthepoint · Post by **shotfromthepoint** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:21 pm

I have played for Stefano at Maple Grove. Gary is a fantastic person and a great coach. I was very upset when I found out he was asked to resign because I know he makes very positive impacts on his players lives. I would be willing to bet over 90% of players that go through the program leave happy. If anyone asks me I will have his back 110%.

mulefarm · Post by **mulefarm** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:34 pm

From the outside looking in, it seems a very weak administration has let him out to dry. Haven't heard anything from the AD which tells me he has been told not to talk. It is hard to please most hockey parents and to take a poll of them is completely gutless on the administrations part! If they don't know the character of their coaches and be willing to back them, they should be fired!

Nuts&Bolts · Post by **Nuts&Bolts** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:34 pm

So Stefano does nothing wrong but is the scapegoat. Pauley makes his rules as he goes and ousts a 15 year old kid and represents MSHSL coaches trying to snub out junior hockey and is a legend. And we have administration at Mound Westonka that make ridiculous decisions that cost a team the season and get away with an apology. Sounds right.

dlow · Post by **dlow** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:37 pm

Isn't this related to his handling/mishandling of the incident that led to the suspensions? I'm not following how players parents are being blamed. That obviously was a major incident and if he mishandled it, didn't take it seriously, didn't take action when he was informed about it, or the like, I can see why the school would lose confidence in him to work with these kids.

Seems like he was a great hockey coach, but that not what this was about, right..

MNpuckBlog · Post by **MNpuckBlog** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 12:08 am

dlow wrote:Isn't this related to his handling/mishandling of the incident that led to the suspensions? I'm not following how players parents are being blamed. That obviously was a major incident and if he mishandled it, didn't take it seriously, didn't take action when he was informed about it, or the like, I can see why the school would lose confidence in him to work with these kids.

Seems like he was a great hockey coach, but that not what this was about, right..

That seems to be what's going on, but IMO what happened was out of his control. I feel that's more of a parenting issue than a coach issue. Coaches can hold their players to a certain standard of behavior, but they're high school kids and they will be mischievous. I don't feel there was much he could do in a situation where 13 players who see time on varsity are involved in something like what had allegedly happened.

Stars67 · Post by **Stars67** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:11 am

Stefano is a GREAT COACH... I had the opportunity to play for him a few years back when I was in High School as part of the Advanced 17 Program. Here is one thing I can say about him. All the players that I was friends with that played for him absolutely loved him. They said he was personable but disciplinary. This in my opinion is the hardest thing to achieve as a coach, a relationship where players respect you but also enjoy you. Stefano built a fantastic program at MG and he should be remembered in good light. If anyone deserves to be fired it should be the parents of these kids, especially the girl victim in this. I didn't know coaching all of a sudden turned into parenting. These parents don't keep track of their kids and most have NO IDEA how much exposure their kids have to things like this and other very ADULT situations. Parents need to be parents, coaches need to coach. A young kid made a bad decision, one that he is probably getting praised for among his buddies. But unfortunately, it has cost a grown man his job.

Shinbone_News · Post by **Shinbone_News** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:37 am

Them's the breaks. I think MG has developed into a great program -- they also have some nice assistant coaches and a killer youth program. But when something of this magnitude happens, heads gotta roll, and they're looking for the one wearing the crown usually. Since from the earliest time this was ID'd as a HOCKEY-TEAM debacle, the head coach is going to be held accountable. Why? Because administration needs to make some kind of serious public statement about a "new direction." Is it right? Probably not. Is it normal? Yes.

Man in charge is held accountable, whether he has direct control or not.

And if you believe the rumors, MG mucky-mucks have had a permissive look-the-other way attitude for a long time about this particular "tradition."

MNhockeyNut · Post by **MNhockeyNut** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:51 am

hockey21, Do you know what “the event” is? Yes I do.
A leader of ANY organization is responsible for the actions of his subordinates.
I do NOT live ANY where near Maple Grove. So no, I have never met the guy. I hear good things about him so I bet he is a good guy. I have seen his teams and I saw him coaching a practice during the summer. I believe he is a great coach!
This “event” has happened before. (YES, I know that for a fact). Did he hide the issue when he found out? Did he instruct all players before the season to not get into these situations?
It is a coach’s responsibility to enforce rules that can happen off the ice. Grades, drinking, hazing are a few examples.
Should a coach have to parent his players? No, but he should not only coach but also be a good leader for the kids on and off the ice.
A lot of good leaders have fallen from grace because of the actions of others.
Have you ever heard of Joe Paterno?
Sorry for the loss of a nice guy and a good coach! This is life, welcome to it.

Tigers33 · Post by **Tigers33** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:03 am

Every example you just said is a school's disciplinary issue. Stefano doesn't discipline a kid for drinking that's the school doing that (mshsl). Stefano doesn't discipline a kid for hazing that's the school's code of conduct policy. Typically 9 out of 10 coaches don't discipline kids for grades again that's the school's policy that they follow.

This isn't college folks. It's high school! Mommy and daddy have to take some responsibility from 7am to 5pm as well. It's not like when the kids go to school all responsibility of the parents is done.

If he knew about it and didn't tell...completely different story. He also might have reported this the second he found out.

MrBoDangles · Post by **MrBoDangles** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:31 am

Were these kids in dorms with Stefano as the hall monitor?

Will the principal be let go because he/she is in charge of all students?

Teachers must also be punished....?

Lunch ladies?

Shouldn't the responsibility of the staff go away when the kids go away from their watch...?

Makes no sense!

Tenoverpar · Post by **Tenoverpar** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:47 am

The SCHOOL gets the kids 7 hours a day..the hockey coach gets them for 1-1.5 hours a day...the parents get them for 14 or so...why is this solely the hockey coaches fault again? There are plenty of ADULTS involved in these kids lives.....I blame the math teacher, rumor has it 5 of the players all had the same Calc class together...it's her fault for not properly supervising these kids for 24 hours a day...the shame of the math department

RonBurgandy · Post by **RonBurgandy** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:52 am

MrBoDangles wrote:Were these kids in dorms with Stefano as the hall monitor?

Will the principal be let go because he/she is in charge of all students?

Teachers must also be punished....?

Lunch ladies?

Shouldn't the responsibility of the staff go away when the kids go away from their watch...?

Makes no sense!

Amen...Best post on this topic so far!

inthestands · Post by **inthestands** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:54 am

When things like this happen, it's always easier to point fingers rather than look in the mirror.

More and more that is the way of the world today..

Who is, and should be responsible for the moral behavior of our kids? In this case it appears to be their hockey coach..

mulefarm · Post by **mulefarm** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:56 am

Comparing the Penn State sitiuation to MG and Stefano is a little extreme. If you want to use that example, the the AD, Principal, District person in charge of athletics and even the Sup. should be gone. If heads must roll, don't just stop with the coach and say everything is fine now. He got screwed by a weak AD and Principal who couln't take the heat!

mnhock10 · Post by **mnhock10** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:59 am

It seems that from the moment this story broke the district and school officials have not handled this situation well, to say the least. What was the purpose of holding a new conference if you are not going to/can't answer 90 percent of the questions asked? Why send Stefano a letter telling him he will not return next year before the season is even over? No matter what involvement Stefano may have had in the incident, if any at all, he did the right thing and kept coaching and putting the team first even when he knew he wouldn't be back. He deserves some credit for that.

Without knowing the true facts of the event that took place, and to what extent Stefano knew about it or if he tried to cover it up, it seems that because of the media coverage this received and how poorly the school handled it, they needed to make a statement. It is a little interesting that we have heard nothing from the AD. Although not all that surprising considering how he has handled some other coaching situations that have gone on at Maple Grove in the past. If they are going clean house, might as well consider doing it thoroughly...

Regardless of whether Stefano may have known about this incident or tried to cover it up, parents need to be parents. Although coaches can definitely have an impact on a kid, it is the parents responsibility to teach right and wrong. Don't get me wrong, I understand kids make mistakes and shouldn't be punished for the rest of their lives for it, but too often coaches are being expected to be more of a parent to these kids than their own parents. It's unfortunate that dealing with parents is causing good coaches to leave the game, at all levels, boys and girls.

I hope that both the Maple Grove hockey program and Gary Stefano can move forward in a positive direction.

MrBoDangles · Post by **MrBoDangles** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 9:27 am

We can stop with the cover up or trying to hide what happened comments....... They would have chopped his head off right away, if they had that, to cover themselves. He also wouldn't be wondering WHY on public television.

The Maple Grove Hockey community and ALL students need to rally around their coach and demand answers. Demand a school board meeting about this and why the higher ups are not more responsible than a COACH of SOME of the students involved?

Look for Maple Grove Hockey to have some very tough years if they don't.

Need to rally!!!