Severna Park High boys lacrosse coach Jimmy Beardmore is vowing to fight for his job after the Anne Arundel County school decided not to renew his contract.
Beardmore led the Falcons to Class 4A-3A state titles in 2004 and 2006 and a state finalist appearance in 2005.
The three-year coach compiled a 50-8 record over that time, but as a non-teacher, he is considered an emergency coach and must re-apply for his position annually, county school spokesman Bob Mosier said.
Mosier could not offer any further comment on the issue since it is a personnel issue.
The decision by Severna Park principal James Hamilton leaves the boys lacrosse program in a difficult position since practice for the upcoming season begins March 1.
“I don’t want to say anything disparaging about the school, but the only ones being hurt by this decision is the student-athletes. I just want to get this matter resolved,” said Beardmore, who added that he would re-apply for the position.
It is unclear what led to the decision not to bring back Beardmore, who was an All-American goalie at Maryland in the mid-1980s. However, one parent said Beardmore’s removal as coach came after an incident last week where a couple of students had water thrown on them. Those students had not participated with other teammates in the Polar Bear Plunge Jan. 27 at Sandy Point State Park.
The parent, Gary Klein, said he heard that school officials considered the incident possibly to be hazing.
Klein also said he heard the officials then accuse Beardmore of having a team meeting out of season, which is against Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association regulations.
Klein, whose son, Max, was one of the students involved in the incident, disputed the school officials? alleged accusations, saying he considered it a “matter of zero significance” as a parent. Klein said he and a number of other parents are planning to petition county school officials to reinstate Beardmore as coach.
“Jim Beardmore is a representative of everything that is good about high school athletics,” Gary Klein said. “He is an excellent coach, a visionary and a true sportsman. [Severna Park] is a nationally known and nationally ranked lacrosse program, and to put the student-athletes in this position two weeks before practice starts is unconscionable.”
