Wow. Right after a state championship. Problem in Park Hills as I’ve seen hundreds comment on coaches post showing love and upset this happened. Many people writing letters and emails to Principal Jack VonHandorf, and many unhappy people on Facebook. 

Per Suli’a Facebook: 

“Edit: I just received this from a parent. The principal asked me to resign, I didn’t resign for other opportunities. Yet, he didn’t want to state the truth in his email to parents. Let this shed a light of the person who is the leader at such an outstanding school and community. 

Thank you.
Thank you to all the fantastic young women I have had the pleasure of working with. From the trophies to the tough times, I hope we all picked up lessons along the way. 

Before you hear it from others, allow me to give a back story of what has has happened, starting all the way back to when I got to NDA, as I’m sure it is a shock to most. Starting off with this: I am not perfect, nor will I ever be, that is perfectly acceptable as long as we continue to grow. That’s been my motto for a very long time. 
There was this tradition at NDA where players get cut their junior year if they weren’t going to have an impact on the field their junior and senior year. And those players getting cut are talented players. Maybe would struggle to see a ton of time on the field, but definitely deserving to play high school soccer. So as a fresh new coach at the school who loves this game, I chose to keep more players then what was done in the past, which families were super grateful for. Grateful as in sending long emails and cards to thank me. Fast forward 1 year, and those exact families were unhappy about the playing time. As the 2022 season concluded, those parents (whose daughters are graduating) painted a very ugly and untrue picture about me and took it to our principal, Jack VonHandorf.

This wasn’t the first incident of an unhappy parent, happens often in high school sports. However, I have had the privilege of having the two most awesome AD’s, Myanna & Susan, who support their coaches unconditionally. They know what’s right and what’s wrong, and if the coach is being treated wrongly they step up for their coaches. That doesn’t always happen, but those two are rockstars. 

Our AD has supported me throughout this whole process, but has chosen to step away from NDA at the end of this school year. So the leadership decision came down to the principal. The false accusation, and ugly picture that the few families painted of me happened back a few months ago. When the other 80% of the program heard about this, they showed tremendous support. They met with the principal, all sent him emails supporting me. I told those parents, I’m not here to fight for my position because I have not put myself in a situation to have to do that. But my heart felt full when I witnessed the good in this world standing up against the bad, and the false information that was being shared.

Over the last 48 hours, NDA’s principal received emails from both parents and players expressing their appreciation for me and what we have done at this program.

God opens doors, and closes doors. I left the principals office today after being asked to resign without a single negative feeling inside of me. I know God does certain things because HE knows what is best for you. I know how much time, effort, and love my staff and I have poured into this program.

Lastly and most importantly:
The girls at NDA are fantastic. They are the hardest working, most competitive group of girls you can coach. Majority of the families are fantastic. I am so blessed to have crossed paths with you. So I want to wholeheartedly thank you for… being you. I want to thank the staff I had at NDA. I couldn’t have done any of this without you. 

✌️out ?. I’ll be cheering you on for a very long time ahead and wish you all the success on and off the pitch. ?

With love,
Coach Suli“

So the issue was playing time with additional players on the roster that wouldn't normally make the roster?

8 minutes ago, theguru said:

So the issue was playing time with additional players on the roster that wouldn't normally make the roster?

Yep. The entitlement of some parents there is out of hand. The stuff he dealt with would have made many coaches walk at the end of the season.

Disappointed!!! Suli is such a great coach and person. Loved the battles these last 2 years.  He will be a huge addition to any program that gives him a call. I’m sure his phone has already rang a few times.

 

3 hours ago, TheConch said:

Wow. Right after a state championship. Problem in Park Hills as I’ve seen hundreds comment on coaches post showing love and upset this happened. Many people writing letters and emails to Principal Jack VonHandorf, and many unhappy people on Facebook. 

Per Suli’a Facebook: 

“Edit: I just received this from a parent. The principal asked me to resign, I didn’t resign for other opportunities. Yet, he didn’t want to state the truth in his email to parents. Let this shed a light of the person who is the leader at such an outstanding school and community. 

Thank you.
Thank you to all the fantastic young women I have had the pleasure of working with. From the trophies to the tough times, I hope we all picked up lessons along the way. 

Before you hear it from others, allow me to give a back story of what has has happened, starting all the way back to when I got to NDA, as I’m sure it is a shock to most. Starting off with this: I am not perfect, nor will I ever be, that is perfectly acceptable as long as we continue to grow. That’s been my motto for a very long time. 
There was this tradition at NDA where players get cut their junior year if they weren’t going to have an impact on the field their junior and senior year. And those players getting cut are talented players. Maybe would struggle to see a ton of time on the field, but definitely deserving to play high school soccer. So as a fresh new coach at the school who loves this game, I chose to keep more players then what was done in the past, which families were super grateful for. Grateful as in sending long emails and cards to thank me. Fast forward 1 year, and those exact families were unhappy about the playing time. As the 2022 season concluded, those parents (whose daughters are graduating) painted a very ugly and untrue picture about me and took it to our principal, Jack VonHandorf.

This wasn’t the first incident of an unhappy parent, happens often in high school sports. However, I have had the privilege of having the two most awesome AD’s, Myanna & Susan, who support their coaches unconditionally. They know what’s right and what’s wrong, and if the coach is being treated wrongly they step up for their coaches. That doesn’t always happen, but those two are rockstars. 

Our AD has supported me throughout this whole process, but has chosen to step away from NDA at the end of this school year. So the leadership decision came down to the principal. The false accusation, and ugly picture that the few families painted of me happened back a few months ago. When the other 80% of the program heard about this, they showed tremendous support. They met with the principal, all sent him emails supporting me. I told those parents, I’m not here to fight for my position because I have not put myself in a situation to have to do that. But my heart felt full when I witnessed the good in this world standing up against the bad, and the false information that was being shared.

Over the last 48 hours, NDA’s principal received emails from both parents and players expressing their appreciation for me and what we have done at this program.

God opens doors, and closes doors. I left the principals office today after being asked to resign without a single negative feeling inside of me. I know God does certain things because HE knows what is best for you. I know how much time, effort, and love my staff and I have poured into this program.

Lastly and most importantly:
The girls at NDA are fantastic. They are the hardest working, most competitive group of girls you can coach. Majority of the families are fantastic. I am so blessed to have crossed paths with you. So I want to wholeheartedly thank you for… being you. I want to thank the staff I had at NDA. I couldn’t have done any of this without you. 

✌️out ?. I’ll be cheering you on for a very long time ahead and wish you all the success on and off the pitch. ?

With love,
Coach Suli“

To correct Notre Dame President Jack VanHandorf, Notre Dame won a state title in 2021, not 2022.  That seems like a big enough deal that the President would know the actual year since it wasn't that long ago.  The Notre Dame President seems incompetent and the parents seem to think he is lying about the resigning to pursue other opportunities.    I smell something fishy!

Here are my two major concerns with this: First, Jack VonHandorf blatantly lied to the program. Coach Kayed didn’t “resign for other opportunities”, he was asked to resign by the person telling families otherwise. I believe this is the primary problem for which he needs to be held accountable. Secondly, the parents. If the good parents don’t start holding the bad parents accountable, none of this will ever change at NDA. I like that the parents are supporting Coach Kayed on Facebook, but I imagine that won’t accomplish anything. Name the parents who did this. Make the next group of parents think twice before they derail a career for the sake of being petty. There is absolutely no deterrent for parents to blast a coach at NDA. All they have to do is pretend like they might write a check, and there are no consequences for their actions. It’s been happening there for years. While this particular principal appears to be a spineless liar, he is not the original problem. Until parents have to consider facing some form of repercussions, history will continue to repeat itself. 

Crazy - but not surprising in this era.

Edited March 13, 20233 yr by theguru

On 3/10/2023 at 8:53 PM, FrankNicodemus said:

Disappointed!!! Suli is such a great coach and person. Loved the battles these last 2 years.  He will be a huge addition to any program that gives him a call. I’m sure his phone has already rang a few times.

 

From what I have heard, the next job for him will not be in N Ky. I am told he is done with this side of the river after this experience.

3 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

From what I have heard, the next job for him will not be in N Ky. I am told he is done with this side of the river after this experience.

That doesn't make sense to me.  The state of Kentucky didn't fire him, NDA did.  I can't help but think there is more to this.

15 minutes ago, theguru said:

That doesn't make sense to me.  The state of Kentucky didn't fire him, NDA did.  I can't help but think there is more to this.

Hmmm. I hope you're not inferring that from my post. The way I took it was he felt there was some parochialism over here that he wanted no part of going forward. I imagine he will run into the parent battle elsewhere too but it seemed like he felt it was different here.

2 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Hmmm. I hope you're not inferring that from my post. The way I took it was he felt there was some parochialism over here that he wanted no part of going forward. I imagine he will run into the parent battle elsewhere too but it seemed like he felt it was different here.

This whole thing doesn't pass the smell test to me and I don't understand what the perceived difference is between Kentucky and Ohio.  

2 hours ago, theguru said:

This whole thing doesn't pass the smell test to me and I don't understand what the perceived difference is between Kentucky and Ohio.  

I agree with you G, I feel (just a feeling) like there is a big chapter that is being withheld....

It will be interesting if we ever find out the WHOLE story.

4 minutes ago, FrankNicodemus said:

I agree with you G, I feel (just a feeling) like there is a big chapter that is being withheld....

It will be interesting if we ever find out the WHOLE story.

Same.

This is just a rumor going around.  He has not shut out Kentucky schools from my understanding.