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June 20. 2012 11:54PM
NHIAA hears from principal on ex-coach
MERRIMACK — Ken Johnson, principal at Merrimack High School, was scheduled to meet with the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Sportsmanship Committee Wednesday in regard to an incident with the school’s former baseball coach.
Johnson was expected to share the results of his own investigation into coach Ryan Anderson’s decision to attend his team’s warm-up session before the quarterfinal game against Exeter on June 5 at Gill Stadium. Anderson had been ejected from a prior game and was disqualified from participating in the June 5 game, which Merrimack won 6-1. The NHIAA asked Johnson to investigate the incident. Anderson and Andy Krahling, the district’s athletic director, have since voluntarily resigned.
According to the NHIAA rulebook, any coach who is disqualified “shall not participate in the next two scheduled interscholastic events.” Further, “any coach who is disqualified and participates in the next scheduled interscholastic athletic event, including NHIAA tournament contests, will cause that school’s game or event to be forfeited in the event of a win.”
In a letter to the editor to the Manchester Union Leader, Anderson explained his rationale for the alleged violation.
“Not considering a warm-up as a part of a ‘game event,’ I hit balls for fielding practice before the quarter-final game, but left the stadium before the game began,” Anderson wrote. “Unfortunately, my interpretation of what constitutes a ‘game event’ was wrong — warm-up before the game is deemed by the NHIAA as part of the ‘game event.’ To prevent Merrimack High school from having to forfeit that game, and thus be out of championship contention, I resigned.”
Anderson went on to say that the decision to resign was difficult, but stressed that he has high respect for the school district’s administration, and has enjoyed being a part of the school community.
The coach’s troubles initially transpired on May 31 when he was ejected from a game against Alvirne High School while questioning a controversial call.
“I have coached for 10 years, and there are times when emotions during a game run high, particularly during controversial calls,” Anderson said previously. “ … I want students and athletes to know that there are times when even if you think you are doing everything right, something goes wrong. That’s OK .”
Merrimack eventually lost the Division I title game 5-4 against Concord on Saturday at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.
Pat Corbin, executive director of the NHIAA, was not immediately available to comment on the outcome of Wednesday’s meeting, nor was Johnson.
Kimberly Houghton may be reached at khoughton@newstote.com.
Johnson was expected to share the results of his own investigation into coach Ryan Anderson’s decision to attend his team’s warm-up session before the quarterfinal game against Exeter on June 5 at Gill Stadium. Anderson had been ejected from a prior game and was disqualified from participating in the June 5 game, which Merrimack won 6-1. The NHIAA asked Johnson to investigate the incident. Anderson and Andy Krahling, the district’s athletic director, have since voluntarily resigned.
According to the NHIAA rulebook, any coach who is disqualified “shall not participate in the next two scheduled interscholastic events.” Further, “any coach who is disqualified and participates in the next scheduled interscholastic athletic event, including NHIAA tournament contests, will cause that school’s game or event to be forfeited in the event of a win.”
In a letter to the editor to the Manchester Union Leader, Anderson explained his rationale for the alleged violation.
“Not considering a warm-up as a part of a ‘game event,’ I hit balls for fielding practice before the quarter-final game, but left the stadium before the game began,” Anderson wrote. “Unfortunately, my interpretation of what constitutes a ‘game event’ was wrong — warm-up before the game is deemed by the NHIAA as part of the ‘game event.’ To prevent Merrimack High school from having to forfeit that game, and thus be out of championship contention, I resigned.”
Anderson went on to say that the decision to resign was difficult, but stressed that he has high respect for the school district’s administration, and has enjoyed being a part of the school community.
The coach’s troubles initially transpired on May 31 when he was ejected from a game against Alvirne High School while questioning a controversial call.
“I have coached for 10 years, and there are times when emotions during a game run high, particularly during controversial calls,” Anderson said previously. “ … I want students and athletes to know that there are times when even if you think you are doing everything right, something goes wrong. That’s OK .”
Merrimack eventually lost the Division I title game 5-4 against Concord on Saturday at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.
Pat Corbin, executive director of the NHIAA, was not immediately available to comment on the outcome of Wednesday’s meeting, nor was Johnson.
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Kimberly Houghton may be reached at khoughton@newstote.com.
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