Players outraged by decision not to retain Drootin

Scott Drootin will not return as head varsity baseball coach at Newbury Park High, athletic director Richard Urias has confirmed.

"We're just going to move in a different direction," Urias said.

Drootin, who worked as an off-campus coach, spent five years with the Panthers and led the team to a Marmonte League title in 2006. He didn't immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

According to Urias, NPHS asked Drootin to resign during a meeting last Friday and gave him until Monday to make a decision. When Monday came and went without a response from Drootin, Urias said the school decided to sever ties with the coach.

"We're going to miss him for the success that we've had," Urias said, "but sometimes you just need to start over, to start new."

Panther second baseman Jack Marder, a senior-to-be who's already accepted a scholarship to Oregon, and Ben Cohen, who recently graduated from NPHS after spending two years on the varsity team, said the school made a terrible choice in letting Drootin go.

"It's one of the worst decisions they could have possibly made," Marder said. "Before Drootin got here, the program wasn't doing well at all. Once he got here, the program turned around, and we developed into a league championship contender. . . .

"We're outraged with what's going on," Marder said. "A lot of the kids are upset about it. It's absolutely ridiculous."

Added Cohen: "I feel bad for the younger kids who won't be able to play for (Drootin). He pushed me so well. I was a decent player, but he never let me settle."

According to both Marder and Cohen, the Newbury Park administration faced tremendous pressure from a small group of parents and players who didn't like the way Drootin interacted with the team. The group also accused Drootin of recruiting athletes from other areas, Marder said.

"It's pretty much all the kids from last year who didn't play who are now bitter about it, and they got together to get rid of him," Marder said. "But, the truth is, they just weren't good enough to play."

Urias said pressure from parents didn't factor into the final decision on Drootin.

"I haven't been (at NPHS) very long, but I've been in my position for about seven years, and I can say that no one parent gets a coach fired or not rehired," Urias said.

"There is not a parent, or one parent, behind this. Unfortunately, in high school sports every thing you do is scrutinized."

Cohen, who will play for Pitzer College, applauded Newbury Park principal Athol Wong for her efforts in speaking with current and former players and getting their input on the situation before acting.

"She's a great principal, and I'd back her with almost any decision she made," Cohen said. "I don't put her at fault for any of this. I fault those kids who are bitter. . . .

"I don't think (Wong) made a rush to judgment. I think she was pushed into a corner."

Wong did not return phone calls seeking comment prior to deadline.

Urias said NPHS would like to hire a new varsity coach in the coming weeks. Anyone looking to apply for the position can contact the athletic director at (805) 4983676, ext. 1008.