It seems like I can find some opinions on here! I am seeking some advice for the situation below, which I will summarize. I am not a team member, coach, or parent, but I am watching from the outside in and it’s killing me:
HS boys XC coach, probably has been on staff for ~6 years. Year after year he has done some things that just make everyone cringe, such as kicking kids off the team for going on a summer family vacation with months advanced notice (but not until after they’ve returned), and pulling kids from meets if they’ve missed any prior practice due to school or family obligations or sickness. This season, he ran 7 guys at conferences, they got 2nd and 7/7 PRed. Sectionals, same 7 ran, 2nd place & advanced to state groups, 7/7 PRed. Groups, 4th place & advanced to state championship, fastest course team average in school history. A few days after, coach tells the 7th guy (a 4-year, 3-season, team captain senior) that he is replacing him with a junior who’s been injured all season and has not raced, in front of said junior. At the state championship. Which is the end of the season, placement does not matter here. This team will not win. They’ll be 9th or 10th at BEST. And this junior will be lucky if he’ll be the team’s 5th or 6th guy. Everyone on this team is so scared to speak up about this that they’ve all stayed quiet and the team atmosphere has apparently been extremely awkward and unsettling. Finally the 7th guy asks the coach why, to which he cited the junior’s faster times on the track last year. He also tells him that he will never be good enough for the championship XC meet, and that he was made for sprinting. The guy broke 17 for 5k (XC) this year, is strong AF, and is certainly more trained for distance than sprints. He is team captain and has made this team a priority for 4 years.
The state championship is in 3 days, the coach could still change his mind so can’t curse him out quite yet? It seems like he is really coaching for his own ego. But he’s ruining a 4-year dream that a senior runner earned. What can be done?!?