kaorder1999
01-05-2005, 09:40 AM
Wilmer-Hutchins coach says he pulled team to avert riot
11:38 PM CST on Tuesday, January 4, 2005
By JIM BARNES / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
An area high school coach says he pulled his team out of a game because he feared violence, but the decision cost him his job.
Wilmer-Hutchins reassigned Walter Yates Jr. to its middle school this week and named assistant Andy Curtis its boys basketball coach, athletic director Mike Robinson confirmed Tuesday.
Robinson would not comment on Wilmer-Hutchins' forfeit of its game Friday at Crandall, nor on the reason for Yates' reassignment.
"We thought it was in the best interest of our district and our boys basketball program to make a coaching change," Robinson said.
But Yates said Robinson and other school officials told him he was removed as coach because he pulled his team off the floor with 56 seconds left in the nondistrict game and the teams tied at 34. The outcome was recorded as a 2-0 win for Crandall.
Yates, who was in his first season at Wilmer-Hutchins, said Tuesday he believed the game had gotten out of control and people in the stands were becoming hostile. Wilmer-Hutchins had been called for three technical fouls.
"I was basically trying to keep a riot from happening," Yates said. He added, "I was punished for taking my team out of harm's way."
But Crandall coach Brant Bennett said he didn't think there was danger of a fight. He said Crandall had come from behind to tie the game, and a Wilmer-Hutchins player was called for an offensive foul. That triggered Wilmer-Hutchins' technicals and Yates' decision to walk off, Bennett said.
Yates became Wilmer-Hutchins' coach in August after spending one season as an assistant at Prairie View A&M. His only other head coaching experience came in 2002-03, when he led Houston Waltrip to a 20-12 record. Wilmer-Hutchins (10-10) beat Waco La Vega, 56-43, on Monday with Curtis as coach.
11:38 PM CST on Tuesday, January 4, 2005
By JIM BARNES / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
An area high school coach says he pulled his team out of a game because he feared violence, but the decision cost him his job.
Wilmer-Hutchins reassigned Walter Yates Jr. to its middle school this week and named assistant Andy Curtis its boys basketball coach, athletic director Mike Robinson confirmed Tuesday.
Robinson would not comment on Wilmer-Hutchins' forfeit of its game Friday at Crandall, nor on the reason for Yates' reassignment.
"We thought it was in the best interest of our district and our boys basketball program to make a coaching change," Robinson said.
But Yates said Robinson and other school officials told him he was removed as coach because he pulled his team off the floor with 56 seconds left in the nondistrict game and the teams tied at 34. The outcome was recorded as a 2-0 win for Crandall.
Yates, who was in his first season at Wilmer-Hutchins, said Tuesday he believed the game had gotten out of control and people in the stands were becoming hostile. Wilmer-Hutchins had been called for three technical fouls.
"I was basically trying to keep a riot from happening," Yates said. He added, "I was punished for taking my team out of harm's way."
But Crandall coach Brant Bennett said he didn't think there was danger of a fight. He said Crandall had come from behind to tie the game, and a Wilmer-Hutchins player was called for an offensive foul. That triggered Wilmer-Hutchins' technicals and Yates' decision to walk off, Bennett said.
Yates became Wilmer-Hutchins' coach in August after spending one season as an assistant at Prairie View A&M. His only other head coaching experience came in 2002-03, when he led Houston Waltrip to a 20-12 record. Wilmer-Hutchins (10-10) beat Waco La Vega, 56-43, on Monday with Curtis as coach.