Could Werner’s termination be attributed to athlete complaints or planned program cuts? The public has no way of knowing.
After four months and still no satisfactory answers, it remains that the Ohio University Athletics Department committed a major injustice in firing its successful head Swimming & Diving coach of 18 years on Oct. 30, 2013. Not only has the university and athletics department tarnished and darkened a well-respected and accomplished man’s reputation and career, they have also discredited themselves as an institute of integrity, honesty and professionalism by doing so.
What can be said for an administration when it abruptly and unexpectedly fires a head coach, allows a group of student athletes to be the driving force for this action, sets up a young assistant as interim head coach for a less-than-successful season, hides behind “without cause” as its basis for firing and uses the pretense of needing to take the program in a different direction as its reason for doing so? Ohio’s athletic director, Jim Schaus, at one point and in contradiction to earlier statements, stated the complaints of the athletes didn’t weigh into the firing of coach Werner, and coach Werner’s personnel file indicates he has not committed any misconduct violations, neglected or not performed any head coaching duties, or broken any NCAA, USA Swimming or team or University Code of Conduct policies. So, why fire this man?
Speculation points to several possibilities, including possible additional program budget cuts or future plans to drop the program. Perhaps gender equity and Title lX issues may be the culprit. Maybe facility issues come into play. Perhaps they need someone less willing to defend and fight for this program as coach Werner has done over his tenure here. Maybe this firing was the result of a preconceived agenda or just some personal dislike. One thing is for certain: OU will have a difficult time finding a more dedicated and successful replacement for coach Werner. They may hire someone with great credentials from a high-profile program with success in its present position, but this alone does not always make for a successful fit. And in case they’ve forgotten, they just fired someone with the same credentials. You’d better get it right, Mr. Schaus. I, and many others, will be waiting to see this better direction you proclaim to be seeking.
Candace Jascott Kostival graduated from Ohio University in 1973.
