Days after the firing of Newburgh Sea Creatures Head Coach Aaron Opell, 9 board members of the team have resigned.
A meeting held at Castle High School on Monday night did not allow swimmers to give speeches or express their thoughts on the firing of Coach Opell or the future of the club. Only the board spoke at the meeting.
A new board has already been appointed, led by their president Amy Kolleck.
The removal of Opell and resignation of the board members comes just weeks out of U.S. Nationals. As a result of his removal, U.S. National Team member Lilly King will not be representing the club at the U.S. National meet in August.
A channel 14 news report stated “Even though one of Opell’s swimmers is an Olympic contender, a letter from the Newburgh Sea Creatures notes Opell is being let go for not making enough progress as a coach. Board members say they received input from the Castle High School administration, written complaints from parents, and surveys.”
Opell coached Lilly King to a spot on the U.S. National Team last summer. He also coached the 15-18 relay girls to a new National Age Group Record in the 200 medley relay. Last September, Opell was named to the USA Swimming National Team coaching staff.
Neither Opell nor the board has made comment yet after SwimSwam’s original request, but we have reached out to the new president.
Did NSC hire Opell back? What’s the status of him and King?
Or maybe the parent of the swimmers complaining are the reason. Maybe their swimmers didn’t want to work for success and turned it around and made it look like the coach was the reason for their failure to get better.
embrace the great coaches, pick up
the slack for them so they can Coach
and develop the Athletes. The truly
talented ones are hard workers and
passionate about the sport ! Do not
string people along be honest about
your agendas. Is it truly competitive or
recreational??? You can not have both !!! Is it about money or the athletes ???
Wisdom and reason prevailed when NSC rehired Aaron Opell. He is a good man and a good coach, and didn’t deserve this treatment. Six of his swimmers received college scholarships this year. Good luck to the coaching staff and all the NSC swimmers in the future.
The President is the reason. She’s a piece of work. She needs to go away they won’t get rid of her because of politics.
New or old?
If old, she can no longer make decisions.
If new, she will only be there for a few months. She also said at the meeting that 4/5 members of the interim board intend to not be on it come election time. Her swimmer is going to his last meet this weekend (he was a senior), then they’ll be gone.
What people don’t realize is that this is happening more and more ….want to know why? Apparently once your hired as a swim coach your cemented into this position for life! And best of luck to any group of parents who might actually have concrete reason and evidence for making a change. Do you think board members sit around wishing to create drama? No, it’s actually the opposite. Most truly want what is best for the club and have a desire to see it improve or take to the next level. Most of us have normal jobs with bosses who tell us if we are doing our jobs to the best of our ability or if we are underperforming. Clearly… Read more »
you’re*
9 board members = 9 people playing boss telling the coach how to do their job. Let the professionals coach and support their efforts- don’t stifle the program with self serving power plays.
Reduce to 5 members max and you’ll have improved sustainability of the program.
Find it so interesting these clubs mission is to develop fine athletes
and people and to nurture those who
have the drive and determination and
then through the politics choose to throw all away. Puppet board members
can ruin all overnight!!!
Please think about the Athletes and
Children. Always to many agendas!!!