Union contract clears way for McVeigh's return at Perkins

PERKINS TWP. — Shortly after Scott McVeigh was told in late April that his basketball coaching contract would not be renewed, he took a call from a former coach who was let go under contentious circumstances more than two decades ago. Jerry Snodgrass, executive director of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, called McVeigh in early May to offer his support. Snodgrass was fired as Findlay's boys basketball coach in 1999 after eight seasons in that position. "How he put it was, 'For about three or four years afterward, all I kept coming back to was I didn't do anything wrong,' " McVeigh said. "It was like he was reading my mind, and that was it. I hadn't done anything wrong. That meant a lot to me for him to reach out." After that call McVeigh decided to fight a decision that could have ended his basketball coaching career at Perkins after 18 seasons. The culmination of a grievance filed by the Perkins teachers union came Wednesday night when the district school board voted unanimously to renew McVeigh's basketball coaching contract. It was dramatic turn of events from where the coach stood seven weeks ago. He was told April 30 by Perkins superintendent Todd Boggs and principal Jeff Harbal that his supplemental coaching contract would not be renewed. But a provision in the teachers' contract eventually prompted the school board to reverse that decision. A winter sports head coach who is a member of the Perkins Education Association must be given notice, in writing, notifying the coach of the decision to not renew his or her supplemental contract 30 days before the April school board meeting. After the notice, the coach is entitled to a hearing within 15 days. "We're not saying whether Scott is a good coach or a bad coach. We're saying his rights as a PEA member were not followed," said Alice James, head of the teachers union. "There's a procedure to non-renew a head coach and that was not followed. "We put that language in so a head coach who is part of the association has a chance to defend himself," James added. "It's not a fire-at-will thing." James said one of the reasons Article 1507 was negotiated into the PEA contract was to give a coach adequate time to pursue another coaching job. James said McVeigh should have been told of the administration's decision in March. Perkins' boys basketball season ended Feb. 28 with a loss to Sandusky in a sectional final, more than two months before McVeigh was told he wouldn't be back for a 19th season on the Pirates bench. The grievance process included an informal meeting with Harbal in early May. That was followed by a formal grievance and a meeting that included, among others, McVeigh, James, Harbal and the school board's attorney. The board affirmed the grievance and voted 5-0 in a special meeting Wednesday night to renew McVeigh's contract for the 2020-21 season. His current one-year deal expires June 30. James said this was the first such grievance brought by the PEA since Boggs started his job as Perkins superintendent on August 1, 2018. Despite having contract language on his side, McVeigh said he wasn't sure his contact would be renewed. He said he wanted to challenge the decision if only to set a precedent. "I was hopeful that I would get this back," he said. "I didn't think I would, but if it was going to help someone down the road I was always taught to do what's right." Boggs would not comment late Wednesday on the board's unanimous vote, which reversed his original decision. He referenced a statement read by the board at the meeting: "Earlier this spring our administration engaged in discussions with Mr. McVeigh regarding the status of his contract as Head Varsity Boys Basketball Coach for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. At the time of those discussions, no Board action had been taken on Mr. McVeigh's contract. Following those discussions and review of our negotiated agreement with the Perkins Education Association we have determined to renew Mr. McVeigh's contract." McVeigh's supplemental contract was one of more than 50 that were approved by the board Wednesday night. Among other head coaches whose contracts were renewed: Travis Crabtree, wrestling; Brian Heck, girls basketball; Greg Avery, girls tennis; Paul Lea, boys soccer. The list of hires did not include a girls soccer coach. McVeigh was offered that job in late April. Board president Jason Dulaney would not comment on McVeigh's coaching but said one of his sons had McVeigh as a teacher at Perkins and "never had any issues." When asked to comment on the groundswell of community support for McVeigh, Dulaney acknowledged the sizable crowd that attended Wednesday night's meeting. "I noticed there were a lot of people in the audience," Dulaney said. "With the special meeting we didn't have a public session so there was no community feedback." The crowd at the meeting erupted in applause when the board's decision was announced, and support from all corners of Ohio has humbled McVeigh, who has a 237-175 record in 18 seasons at Perkins. His Pirates teams have won five conference titles and two district championships. "The support is unreal — current players, former players, players from other programs, parents of players, current and former, coaches," he said. "The coaching fraternity is probably one of the strongest groups out there and nobody understands that unless they coach." McVeigh said Boggs told him at the April meeting that parental complaints and low participation numbers were the main reasons the superintendent wanted a new basketball coach. McVeigh said he was "totally blindsided" by that decision. Now McVeigh, who plans to enjoy a family vacation next week, likely will be back in the gym with his players for good chunks of July and August. The OHSAA is allowing coaches to work with their athletes this summer, changing regular training schedules due to the coronavirus outbreak. "Summer is so important in skill development," McVeigh said. "You can't cheat the game. If you want to get better you have to put the time in. That's what we have to do." McVeigh, 48, expects the first meeting with his team following the drama of the past two months to be emotional. "It'll be an emotional talk. It's about moving on, it really is," he said. "I thought we made great strides last season as a young and inexperienced team. "Probably the first thing we'll talk about is something we talked about just about every day at practice: You can't let the circumstances control your attitude; you have to let your attitude control your circumstances." ----- Scott McVeigh's coaching highlights at Perkins Career record — 237-175 (18 seasons) SBC championships (5) — 2006-07, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2016-17 District championships (2) — 2012, 2013 Regional runner-up (1) — 2012 (23-3 record)