Jon Schroeder said he had “no clue” that he was about to be let go as the head coach of the La Center High School boys basketball program when he met with the athletic director Wednesday morning.
He claims, after three years on the job, he received no support from the school after complaints were voiced.
He went on the record with The Columbian on Thursday because, he said, he is tired of seeing coaches being pushed out of the profession because schools take the word of a few parents or outsiders who have a gripe.
“Some of this stuff is people making up hearsay type of stuff and it’s taken for gold, and there has to be a change,” Schroeder said. “This is wrong. It’s just wrong. It continues to be wrong with high school athletics.”
Matt Cooke, the athletic director at La Center, said he would not comment on the specifics regarding Schroeder’s exit from the program.
“I do want to thank him for the last three years for his time and his energy that he gave the La Center boys basketball program,” Cooke said.
Schroeder went 47-25 in his three years, helping La Center reach the Class 1A state tournament two times. The Wildcats had not been to state since 2003 before the 2013 squad reached the round of 16.
The timing of his dismissal surprised the coach, as well. Schroeder has been working with the Wildcats for almost three weeks in the spring/summer program, during which team has played more than 10 games. The Wildcats are expected to travel to Spokane for a team camp at Gonzaga University.
Jeremy Ecklund, the junior varsity coach, has been put in charge for the rest of the summer, Cooke said. The school hopes to interview for a head coach in July.
Schroeder, though, wonders why this happened now. The season ended in late February, and he said there have been no discussions about the alleged problems within the program until Wednesday morning’s meeting.
“This could have taken place months ago,” Schroeder said.
Schroeder expects the Wildcats to be contending for a league title again next winter.
“I wish them the absolute best and success,” he said. “We worked really hard. Looking ahead, whoever takes over the program should really enjoy the fruits of labor. They should continue to enjoy success.”
As far as his future, Schroeder said he is not interested in leading a program again.
“If there was a right situation, I wouldn’t mind assisting somebody,” Schroeder said.
