Coach Misunderstands Rule, Banned From Post-Season

BYRON CENTER, Mich. (WZZM) - The coach of the Byron Center High School girl's basketball team says he is embarrassed and frustrated because of a mistake he made.

Coach Glenn Davis is disqualified from the state post season tournament because he did not attend a mandatory on-line rules meeting.

"It was not a matter of defiance or a matter of neglect," he says. "It was a misunderstanding."

Coach Davis says he thought the mandatory attendance requirement was satisfied when the freshman coach enrolled in the rules meeting. By the time he realized the head coach must also attend it was too late.

"I made a mistake," he admits. "I'm taking ownership of that. I just wish the punishment wasn't what it is."

Under Michigan High School Athletic Association rules Davis may continue coaching during the regular season, may even conduct post season practices, but he is not permitted in the gymnasium during tournament games.

"We were surprised the punishment was so severe," says player parent Gayle Hoffman. " They are not going to let him in the gym."

"It's an awful feeling," says Coach Davis. "It's embarrassing. You feel like you have let some kids down and that's the hardest part for me. I feel like I've let down kids I care about greatly."

Byron Center is one of the top ranked teams in the state. To win the championship they will need to play 8 games in the post-season.

"They'll miss him some," says player parent Randy Schild. "The players love to play for him. He's a real players coach and the girls love to play for him."

Assistant Jen Slot will coach the players during the tournament, although she is pregnant and there is the possibility she will give birth during the post season.

"I trust her and I trust them," says Coach Davis. "I'm just worried about that moment when they need me. Something is not going well and they need a little motivation. That's disheartening for me because I feel I need to be there for them."