LINWOOD — Longtime girls swim team coach Mike Schiavo has left his position at Mainland Regional High School due to what one parent called a conflict with athletes’ parents.
Schiavo worked his final day in his coaching position Jan. 6, when boys coach Brian Booth was named interim coach of the girls team.
Athletic Director Michael Gatley said he would not discuss personnel matters.
“We have an interim coach in Brian Booth and are moving forward with the program,” he said.
“The administration has decided to move in a different direction. I wish the team the best as they adjust to the changes ahead of them. Knowing the strength of character on the team, I believe that they will navigate this well, especially with Coach Booth’s leadership during this adjustment period,” Schiavo stated via email.
“I am overwhelmed by the kind words sent my way during this time and continue to be grateful for all the wonderful moments I have experienced through the years — especially the relationships I have developed with the many students, parents and coaches in the South Jersey swimming community.”
He said he would continue teaching history and philosophy at the high school.
Members of the swim team received an email Jan. 6 notifying them that there would be no practice the following two days and that a meeting had been scheduled for Jan. 9 to discuss the matter.
The email, signed by Gatley, canceled a midday meeting and scheduling another for 5 p.m. that day.
“All swimmers (boys and girls) are expected to be at swim practice on Monday, January 9, 2023. Coach Booth and the assistant coaches will direct practice in preparation for out next meet against Egg Harbor Township,” the email stated.
“This meeting is closed to the public and is only for current members of the high school’s girls swim team and their parents/guardians. … During that meeting, we will discuss our plans for the balance of this swim season and be available to answer any questions that you have.”
A parent of one of the swimmers who wished to remain anonymous provided an email that reportedly was sent to the administration, Board of Education and swim team parents
“It is very sad that our board and administration is succumbing to the claims of the same 2-3 parents and are ignoring all of us the rest,” the email stated.
It claims the parties involved “have been planning this for years” and are “likely celebrating their win.”
The email claims some swimmers skipped practice over the winter break without notifying the coach, resulting in harsh words from the coach.
“So the coach ‘yelled’ at the team as a whole for those no-call, no-show swimmers and the parents complained and now we don’t have a coach,” the email states. “It also appears that our girls swim coach is the only one that is not allowed to yell at his athletes and is being held to those standards.”
A group of parents, former athletes and fellow coaches had gathered April 12 last year during the Board of Education meeting in a show of support for Schiavo, who was the subject of an undisclosed complaint at the time.
Speaker after speaker noted how Schiavo, who has taught and coached swimming at the Mainland Recreation Association in Linwood and both Holy Spirit High School and Mainland, instilled discipline, dedication and good values in thousands of youth from around the area.
Some parents said off the record that they had heard rumors that the school board was going to terminate Schiavo’s contract after a swimmer filed a complaint against the coach.
The team went 12-2 last season, won the South Jersey Public B title for the first time in eight years and won the state semifinal, becoming the first MRHS girls team to make it to the NJSIAA Group B state championship meet, where they lost to a powerful Summit team.
This season, the team was undefeated through four meets, with wins over Atlantic City, Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Ocean City and Egg Harbor Township.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff