BANGOR, Maine — Parents of many of the Bangor High School hockey team members have decided not to pursue a meeting with the Bangor school board to ask that Denis Collins be reinstated as head coach.
Collins resigned Monday while an investigation was under way into an incident that occurred on a team bus trip back from a Dec. 11 game in Presque Isle against the Wildcats.
“We supported Denis as coach and we support Quinn [Paradis] now,” said Chuck Sanderson. Paradis, one of the team’s assistant coaches, was appointed to take over Collins’ duties.
“We were told by [Bangor Superintendent of Schools] Betsy [Webb] that we would not be able to bring any action before the [school] board because we didn’t have any standing. We weren’t the [party involved],” said Sanderson.
The parents, who met Wednesday at a house owned by the parents of one of the players, believe that dragging out the issue will distract the players, Sanderson said, so they’ve decided to refrain from any further action.
“The parents have decided they will support the team,” he said.
If Collins does bring a request for reinstatement before the school board, the parents will support him in that as well.
Bangor High School officials learned of the incident, which reportedly could have been prevented by a bathroom break, late on Dec. 12.
Collins told the team at the beginning of the trip that there would be no stops on the way to Presque Isle because it would be close for them to arrive on time. For the return trip, when the incident reportedly occurred, no such statement was made.
Collins said he would have stopped if someone had asked, but no one did, either on the way up or the way back.
On Thursday and Friday, Bangor High Principal Paul Butler started interviewing people who had been on the bus.
Butler and Bangor High Athletic Director Steve Vanidestine met with Collins on Friday, and Butler said Collins offered his resignation.
Butler decided to wait over the weekend to take time to think about it. When he and Vanidestine met with Collins again on Monday, Collins offered his resignation again and Butler accepted it.
Collins said Monday he would not pursue another position as hockey coach and didn’t plan to seek reinstatement at Bangor.
Hopefully Bangor is that much better then any other team as everyone thinks, because Paradis will be out coached !
Why don’t you tell that to his face instead of posting here?
If you must know I have told him that several times ! Just posted it on here so everybody would know what they are in store for. There is a reason he is always the JV Coach !
And Soooo The Queen has spoken. Best not get the Queen too upset because who knows, she might know some more people and you might see your job go bye bye as others have seen..Wow does this woman have friends in High Places.
Power thing.
So if the coward players that obviously have no intention on backing up their coach that helped them win a Championship and were on the way to win another, could have brought this up to Webb, but they wont, so the parents of those players, you know the ones who pay taxes and thus, Webb’s way overpriced salary, are not allowed to?? So much for freedom of speach and trying to do the right things….Only if the Super Powers that be say its ok…and people wonder why Bangor is the PIT that it is….So very very sad.
I for one will be rooting to see the Bangor Hockey team get thier butts kicked each and every game from here on out.
The Bangor area Media are afraid of Webb.. even after she wipes her hanky is clean.
Exactly ! Parents and players that love coach Collins so very much. Jumped shipped awfully quick when they found out their kids might be dismissed from the team if they took responsibility. Sounds like we are really teaching life skills here, the crooked way. If I was you coach I would be ripped, not only did you get thrown under the bus by the school. Your athletes you devoted so much time into are actually driving the bus that backed over you !
Nice grammar! LOL
Ah yes, the savior of the grammar world is here to direct us poor humans who make mistakes, the great white hope, a hockey parent with a kid who is a coward learning from his parent(s) another coward.
Not much accuracy in your post, but good try.
Sounds like this all started by a couple of teen prima-donnas. Hope they are proud of themselves. They’ll get theirs eventually.
Or possibly be elected to high office
How about a game article from last night instead of the same story 4 times with a different title?
I’d like someone to bring some action in front of the School Committee that returns it to a position of authority and requires it to oversee the Superintendent, instead of serving as her appointed ‘yes’ group. That group is dysfunctional to it’s core.
It is sad but true that is how all schools function now.
Wonder how long comrade webb has been lurking around for an excuse! What is Paradis role in all this? Was this a gotcha moment?Since when are parents not allowed to confront a school board on a childs issue?I do believe Parents still have some responsibility for their children .
Webb’s son pushes someone to his demise…Nothing Done!!!!
Someone on the schoolboard speaks up about the lunacy of everyone always agreeing with everything…She’s Gone
Roger Reed wants to do dual jobs and run for elected office…GoNe
Collins doesnt stop for a PEE break….GOne
If you ask me, there sure seems to be a common scenario here with Ms. Webb.
What! Another Carlson moment in the history of Bangor upper crust.
Shhh. He “jumped”, we need to forget about him, except for all the wonderful things he did for Agenda 21 in the “community.”
Don’t forget the math teaching position that Betsy created to accommodate Roger Reed’s replacement. A position for which zero interviews were conducted.
We need a new Super to run the schools. Time for her to go.What an ego that family has.
If I were Denis, I wouldn’t go back!
“I’m a high school player. I’m a team player. I play with my friends and with some of my enemies, but I respect everyone when it comes to my sport. I know I’m not going to get a multi-million dollar contract to play professionally. I know I may not even get my name in the paper. I play for love of the game. For the pride and honor, for the blood, sweat and tears it takes to make the team, to earn the spot, to win the game. I play because I can, I play because I know that my life would be empty without the sport I play. I would have a lack of everything my sport gives me… integrity, courage, talent, fearlessness, pride, strength, stamina, will, and the heart of a champion. Please reinstate our coach!
You forgot it takes a last name to make the team.
You truly have enemies in high school????
I remember not liking some of my classmates but consider them enemies? no
Very commendable! That is what it is all about. . Thank you for sticking up for your coach and your team. Thank you from a person who grew up in a hockey rink with brothers who played, father who coached, and sons who play now. You are a true hockey player.
Very well spoken. People don’t underdstand the drive and passion it takes to play or coach hockey. I hope you get your wish!
Alot of poop over a little pee. BDN is that better?