Guelph Implodes

crazy coach? wrote:

Trackie doesn't care about the Forum? Ha....that they took down a Canadian Running article relating to this is nuts.

I asked some people about this situation, and for the investigative journalists here--call Matt Courtenay at IONA. He supposedly has been pretty vocal about how DST verbally berated him when he chose IONA over Guelph in 2017. He has told a lot of younger kids about what happened....it is pretty unbelievable.

Matt Courtenay came on multiple recruit tours to guelph to train with the team. When asked why he he kept coming down to train his response was “to get better offers”. He had no intention of coming to Guelph but free training. Is there any coach in Canada who would not have acted in a similar manner? It’s quite rich for him to say he was verbally berated for choosing Iona over Guelph and slandering a man he treated with such disrespect. You may also be interested to ask about his situation with the Windsor Lancers if you would like to know how reliable he as a source is.

Courtenay isn’t the only one, and DST’s petty, unprofessional nonsense has gone on for YEARS

Go look at his facebook profile his intro says - Former Head Coach Track and Field at University of Guelph ... facking interesting stuff right there!

SeamusLavell Wadafook Hoho

I have no idea what your trying to facking say, english please!

Is this the same Dave Scott-Thomas who coached cross country at Queens University 99 University Ave, Kingston Ontario ?

Howie Gordy wrote:

Is this the same Dave Scott-Thomas who coached cross country at Queens University 99 University Ave, Kingston Ontario ?

Yeah he briefly coached at Queen's in the 90s, went to BC for a while, then got the Guelph job

So apparently everyone at U-sports champs knows exactly what's going on. That's about 200 people.

Please go find one of them and direct them to this page so some light can be shed.

Thanks in advance.

The University has really screwed this up. Running an internal investigation if complaints about a coach come up (whatever they are) is totally warranted.

However, this has been going on for a long time now. It has taken so long that there is no way it wasn’t going to leak. Once it leaks DST’s career is basically over even if the investigation comes back totally clean.

Even if nothing is found, after weeks of speculation and attacks by people that just don’t like Dave, or Guelph, or his general success, and it will be hard for the University to take him back regardless.

His club business and his ability to get national coaching gigs is also compromised just by virtue of how long this is taking.

An investigation like this should be carried out as fast as possible and put to bed before the residual damage takes hold.

I hope Guelph is ready for a huge severance package (assuming Dave is clean).

Bold assumption.

Hmmmmmm wrote:

Bold assumption.

Totally open to that assumption being false.

It is hard to separate anything real from the usual haters and trolls.

However in either case, this situation should’ve been wrapped up much sooner.

If he is in fact clean he keeps his job right? Report will exonerate him.

Dndnnfnfj wrote:

Hmmmmmm wrote:

Bold assumption.

Totally open to that assumption being false.

It is hard to separate anything real from the usual haters and trolls.

However in either case, this situation should’ve been wrapped up much sooner.

100% agree.

Nubbinz wrote:

If he is in fact clean he keeps his job right? Report will exonerate him.

One would hope a clean report would allow him to continue on with his career. TVO did it with Steve Paikin (and he and DST do share a striking resemblance), But after months of uncertainty, rumour, bad feelings and suspicion, it will be hard for either side to trust each other again, and hard for Guelph to recruit when every google search is going to pull up all the noise.

So who knows.

Do you have any evidence whatsoever that the University investigation is anything but professional and highly efficient?

Or are you simply rumour mongering against the University of Guelph, the independent investigation, and the "past and current athletes" that complained to the University?

Ask Ron Bowker about "fair" investigations. Also ask him about severance packages.

The statement from the University of Guelph indicates that information from multiple people led to the review of Dave Scott-Thomas: "the University received information from past and current track and field athletes."

Lori Bona Hunt, Director of Integrated Communications:

“Dave Scott-Thomas, the head coach of the University of Guelph’s track and field program, is currently on a personal leave of absence. Recently, the University received information from past and current track and field athletes regarding their experiences on the team. We are actively and responsibly reviewing the information received in accordance with University processes and procedures. In accordance with the University’s policies and relevant privacy legislation, the University does not comment on such matters while those processes are underway.”

Dave's competitive behaviour in the context that his livelihood is somewhat tied to the performance of his program can at least be understood. Not justified or condoned but understood. If you spend time, money and effort trying to recruit a blue chip high schooler and then unexpectedly they sign with someone else, you might have some choice words for the kid. Does the kid deserve an earful? No. Probably not. But, if he was "honey dicking" Dave then yes he probably does.

There are vague allusions on this board to interactions with female athletes that caused them to leave the program. Even if the competitive environment of the team is a bit toxic, most athletes still stick around because they want to win championships. Guelph was winning everything in those days and continued to do so despite the high profile departures.

There are also allusions on this thread that in addition to this investigation that he and his wife have separated or are getting a divorce. Perhaps the investigation is unrelated to the marital issues but that seems like a big coincidence.