McNair fires football coach two days before opener
Michael Carvell
McNair High School fired its football coach two days before the team’s season opener.
Roderick Moore, coach of the Mustangs for the last four years, said he was informed of his termination by McNair principal James Jones on Thursday.
“[Jones] said he wanted to ‘move in another direction,’” Moore told the AJC. “I was disappointed. I told him I felt like it was not a wise decision, considering the boys.
“The kids are the most important thing. We’re here for the kids, not because of personal things between adults. It’s about the children, and I think along the way, that message got lost in this situation.”
Roderick Moore had three playoff appearances in four years and helped place nearly 60 McNair players in college. (AJC)
Jones and DeKalb County athletics director Ron Sebree declined to comment on Moore’s removal, referring all inquiries to county spokesperson Dale Davis.
“There were some issues, some concerns that led to the decision,” Davis said, declining to provide details. “He was removed at the discretion of the principal.”
Moore, 40, posted a 26-18 record in four years, guided the Mustangs to three appearances in the state playoffs, and helped nearly 60 players earn college scholarships.
John April, who is McNair’s athletics liaison, has been named as school’s interim coach and oversaw practice on Thursday. The Mustangs play Stephenson at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at DeKalb’s Hallford Stadium.
Moore said he was called to the principal’s office after “miscommunication” over the team’s pre-game meal last Saturday. Moore said his players were initially scheduled to eat at Panthersville Stadium before the scrimmage. However, Moore said he was informed late last Friday that the county school buses used for transportation would be delayed by two hours.
Moore said he then decided to host the meal at McNair, with parents and booster club members bringing cooking grills on school grounds rather than at Panthersville. Moore thought his principal had been told of the change of plans, but later found out differently.
“[Jones] didn’t know about it, and said that permission wasn’t given by him.” Moore said. “He had concerns over the grills being on campus, and the conversation snowballed from there.”
“I don’t think it’s fair, but sometimes life isn’t fair. I appreciate my experience at McNair, and feel blessed that I was able to touch the lives of so many outstanding young men. I wish nothing but the best for the football program.”
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184 comments Add your comment
Fat Albert
August 28th, 2009
10:08 am
I feeling outragious two!!!
Ol Skool
August 28th, 2009
10:12 am
To “DCB”, “Tbanks”, and “FrankTheFalcon”, and anyone else in this blog talking about the other side to this story.
If there was a problem before this incident it should have been dealt with prior to two days before the first Frickin’ game. Can you imagine the emotion and turmoil these kids are going through. I live in Clayton so I don’t know this coach or the pricipal. However, there have been at least a couple of persons in here who played for the guy singing his praises, so the story of how this man cares about “KIDS” sounds legit. And for that reason “Cooler” heads should have prevailed. Maybe they should have sat down with the President over a beer. My daughter teaches at a Dekalb County High School and yes from what I hear you all can’t brag about being better than Clayton County. I have served as a Football Commissioner for a youth football program in Clayton County as well as a Booster Club President for one of the local high schools, It has to always be about the “KIDS” and not this other BS. My wife teaches in APS. To much “CLIQUE” crap in both of these systems. CYA and looking out for your buddies as it seems with these administrators in DCSS.
BOTISE
August 28th, 2009
10:19 am
I totally agree with DGROY..DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM SUCKS… THEY TAKE THE MONEY THAT THE FOOTBALL GAMES BRING IN AND DON’T GIVE ANYTHING BACK TO THE SCHOOLS. RON SEBREE and others time has expired and they need to be booted out! The consession stands from the stadiums are controled by one family that makes ALL the money NEVER…NEVER…NEVER giving back to these teams. Ron Sebree and the consession stand family walks away with the purse every year giving nothing back to the schools. We need to stop buying from these stadiums nothing is coming back to OUR schools.DEKALB DON’T CARE ABOUT THE KIDS ONLY THE MONEY THAT CAN MAKE OFF THE KIDS TALENT!!
#17
August 28th, 2009
11:27 am
first off i want to say that i hav coached with mo for the past three years. he is a great and well respected person that is the heart and soul of mcnair middle and mcnair high. he was the first person to give me an oppurtunity to be a high school coach. im a mcnair alumni and i bleed red and silver .this situation is real foul and some people need to be put on blast. FIRST TO INTERIM COACH JOHN APRIL YOU HAVE WANTED COACH MOORES JOB SINCE U FIRST CAME TO MCNAIR ALSO THIS IS THE SAME COACH THAT COACHED A BASKETBALL TEAM THAT COULD ONLY WIN 4 GAMES OVER THE PAST TWO SEASONS, ALSO YOU HAVE NEVER COACHED FOOTBALL AN A HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL . THIS IS A COACH THAT IS NOT RESPECTED BY THEY STUDENTS AND HE HAS MAJOR HATE FOR OVER HALF OF THE PLAYERS ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM.HE ALSO HAS NEVER EVEN WATCHED THE TEAM PRACTICE . SECOND ON MY LIST IS THE ATHLETIC LIASON MR. HARRELL YOU AE A REAL BUSTER AND MR JONES DO BOY . ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS COACH MOORE CALLED, TEXTED,OR EMAILED U HIS PLANS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON AND THE THINGS THAT HE WANTED TO DO FOR THE TEAM, BUT YOU DIDNT RELAY THE INFO TO MR JONES BECAUSE YOU WERE CONSPIRING TO GET RID OF MO THATS FOUL. NOW TO MR JONES THE PRINCIPAL THAT HAS NO CONTROL OF THE SCHOOL THAT HE IS RUNNING. YOU TOLD EVERYONE IN THE BUILDING THAT MO WAS FIRED B4 YOU TOLD HIM .NOW THATS FOUL, AND WHEN YOU MET THE COACHING STAFF YOU COULD NOT EVEN LOOK US IN THE EYES THATS A MAJOR SIGN OF BEING SHADY . THEN TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS SPEECH TO THE COACHES HIS PHONE RANG AND HE LEFT THE ROOM ONLY B4 TELLING HIS MINIONS TO “HANDLE THEM” . THE IRONIC PART TO THE WHOLE THING IS THAT AFTER OUR GAME VS CARVER MS. SARA COPLEAND WOODS WHO IS ON THE BOARD OF EDU TOLD US THAT WE WERE DOING A GREAT JOB AT MCNAIR.
student at mcnair/player
August 28th, 2009
11:35 am
man thats some bull…. coach mo was a good coach and did not deserve to get fired, he was the one that brought everything to live today we suppose to have a pep rally and it won’t be the same without coach mo… its gonnna be lame cuz coach mo not here!!! and whats up wit bringing coach april to become the football coach he the basketball coach!! i dnt think he knows anything bout football. but coach mo we wish the best for you!!!!
#17
August 28th, 2009
11:38 am
I ALSO HAVE TO SAY THAT THE COACHES @ MCNAIR WERE MORE THAN COACHES WERE FATHERS,BROTHERS, FRIENDS, AND COUNSELORS TO THE BOYS THAT WE COACH. WE SPENT MORE TIME WITH THE BOYS THAN WE DID WITH OUR OWN FAMILIES. ALSO THE CRAZIEST THING ABOUT THIS IS WE HAD A TEAM THIS YEAR THAT COULD GO ALL THE WAY AND WIN A STATE TITLE. NOW IT IS LEFT IN THE HANDS OF SOME VERY INCOMPETENT PEOPLE. THIS CANNOT END LIKE THIS. THEY GOT RID OF NOT ONLY COACH MOORE BUT THE ENTIRE STAFF EXCEP 1 TURNCOAT OF A COACH JUAN TORRES AS THE SO CALLED OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR IT IS MY OPONION THAT HE IS THE ONE THAT SOLD MO DOWN THE RIVER AFTER MO GAVE HIM AN CHANCE TO COME BACK TO THE PROGRAM AFTER HE LEFT THE TEAM 2 YEARS AGO. WHAT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE IS THAT HE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN ALL THE WHILE AND THATS FOUL.BUT U KNOW WHAT THEY SAY THAT GOD DONT LIKE UGLY.
SWD03
August 28th, 2009
12:09 pm
Coach Mo that’s def some bull, 60 kids into colleges says it all…We’ll take you back at SWD, We love ya MO!!!!
SportsFan31313
August 28th, 2009
12:24 pm
I can see some issues where there was a cookout on School Property. There is a lot of Red Tape involved there to get clearance to have this. The Principal is the TOP Administrator of the School and he should have been contacted by the Coach and speak to him personally prior to doing this. What is a player had gotten sick from eating something that he should not have eaten? The responsibility solely rest upon the School Principal.
Now on the other hand, terminating this Coach for a mistake was a bit harsh. I believe that this coach should be reinstated if that was the only reason he was discharged from the Head Coach Position. After all, I am a proud parent as well, and have we forgotten about the kids? This Coach according to reports, have a pretty good coaching record. I believe deep down that there is more to this that meets the eye.
I’m not from there and really don’t know much about the coach or the principal. However; I do keep up with the Football Teams in Georgia, mainly Class AAAAA. But if that is all this Coach had violated, the action taken is a bit too harsh.
A Former Dekalb Resident
August 28th, 2009
12:25 pm
Wow.. Moore, 40, posted a 26-18 record in four years, guided the Mustangs to three appearances in the state playoffs, and helped nearly 60 players earn college scholarships. I wonder how many of those kids will get to go to college now. If principle’s decision to fire this coach will not increase the number of earn scholarship to colleges then I wonder about his decisions for the classroom. Glad we moved to out the county to educate our kids. Way to go Principal Jones with your great test scores you have plenty of time to deal with this issue. Please stay in Dekalb County!!
oldfriend
August 28th, 2009
12:25 pm
Well Mo, Look at it like this, you were a role model for this players in this community in all sports. You have done all you can and now its time for you to work on you. You will always be one of the best coaches at McNair High, but as we all know if you are not a a** kisser than you will not be there long. YOU HAVE DONE GREAT!!!! THANKS A LOT
Best Wishes
Voice of Reason
August 28th, 2009
12:38 pm
Unfortunately, it seems that when you actually find out about one of the “good guys” , the SYSTEM is there to rear their ugly head. The administrators in charge of these schools and school systems couldn’t manage themselves out of a wet, partially torn paper bag. They’re in education because they’d never succeed in the “real world”.
It is obvious to any rational thinking person that when the “county spokesperson” has to speak, especially for a the 2 highest ranking administrators (School Principal and County AD), then the lies, innuendos, and other BS claims are in need of manipulation in order to benefit the school system.
Coach Moore…….run as fast and as far away from that crap as you can. It stinks to high heavens. You should be able to find something else in another environment with more class……and I say THAT with a hint of sarcasm. Remember what you’re dealing with here. Good Luck.
MCNAIR FOOTBALL PLAYER
August 28th, 2009
12:41 pm
THIS WAS A STUPID DECISION BEFORE THE FIRST GAME ! HOW HE THINK THAT GOIN TO EFFECT OUR SEASON TERMINATE OUR COACH BEFORE THE FIRST GAME BUT COACH WE GOT U!!! I GUESS HE DNT CARE ABOUT WHAT BEST FOR THE PLAYER !!! IT ALL GOOD WE STILL GONE BALL FOR “COACH MO”
CT
August 28th, 2009
12:51 pm
Mr. Jones brought these two people in to make things hard for Coach Mo since he got mad about that meeting. He has done everything like cancel practices for no reason, cancel events for no clear cause, NOT ALLOW FOOTBALL CAMP THIS YEAR!!! FORCE COACH MOORE TO VIOLATE GA LAW AND DCSS POLICY BY COMINGLING FUNDS!! This is something that could have gotten Coach Moore’s teaching certificate taken away by Ga Professional Standards Commission, only Coach Moore REFUSED to do it. (Just so happens that this refusal just recently happened, timing is EVERYTHING isn’t it?) He also tried to force Coach to do what is called “deficient spending” which is NOT permitted by GA LAW or DCSS policy, see the aforementioned Athletics Handbook from the website
http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/instruction/athletics/files/Athletics%20Handbook.08.09.pdf
Not to mention, Jones violated Coach Moore’s due process rights, which are established by the Board for grievances. He asked Coach Mo to appear before PARENTS to discuss PERSONNEL matters, which to, is a violation of DCSS policy. Ask Dale Davis, Director of Public Affairs. He says that EVERY TIME YOU ASK HIM ABOUT A PERSONNEL MATTER. He then MADE the parents that attended the meeting sign a letter stating that they would NOT reveal what was said at the meeting after Coach Moore left the room. That, is another violation of rights. The “Open Records Act” allows for ALL minutes and records, of government business(i.e public schools), be made available to the public for view. Board Policy requires that minutes be kept of all such meetings as well as a list of attendees. So if the BOE policy was followed, the Open Records Act should keep such things from being kept private. Unless, the argument is because it was a personnel matter (which means the parents should NOT have been at the meeting because they are NOT DCSS personnel). ….Cont
Faux Fan
August 28th, 2009
12:55 pm
Sounds as if someone is on a Power Trip. Fire the Damn Principal that would be a better direction.
CT
August 28th, 2009
1:03 pm
So to all of you that are wondering what happened, there it is. The difference is that when this happens at the NORTH end of the county, people complain and demand answers and don’t stop until those answers are given. Like the readers of this BLOG, you want answers, you want to know the truth…but how many are so willing to find out or so concerned as to pick up the phone and DEMAND what you have a right to? How many will answer the call and speak up for YOURSELF. Like I told Mo not long ago, you should speak up when things are not going right because you never know when one day that thing is going to be going against YOU. Unfortunately, he found out the hard way! Now, on the north end, law suits, injunctions, protest, and the media would be all over a case like this. In McNair’s community and the community of the WORLD WIDE WEB, which is supposed to have endless resources….WHAT WILL HAPPEN??? How will this play out. It is not about black or white, Rich or poor, but RIGHT OR WRONG. It is about WWJD. It is about WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO HAPPEN IF **YOU** WERE THE ONE GOING THOUGH THIS!
So…WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO??
If every dog has his day…surely a man who has done what Coach Moore has done should have his day too. BTW: that number of 60 players in school in NOT correct. The actual number is more like 150. Remember, Coach Mo has been there 10 years. That number only speaks for him as Head Coach, which he became HC after they did this SAME THING to the previous HC. I know because I helped him get those guys in school. That includes 29 out of 32 in the class of 2006!! Remember that article. AND he still helps kids that come home after starting college either find a job or find a second chance to be in school and finish their degrees. THERE AREN’T TOO MANY PEOPLE LIKE RODERICK IVAN MOORE!!!
As he would say, “I’m throwing up two fingers….PEACE!!”
JimH
August 28th, 2009
1:11 pm
Principal Jones exactly how big is your inflated EGO?????
Interim Coach
August 28th, 2009
1:13 pm
I was there and there’s more to this story. There were several shouting matches between Moore & the principal. Been going on for ~ 9 months. Coach Moore never yielded to the egotistical principal so he was given the boot. The principal should be the one in the unemployment line!
URL
August 28th, 2009
1:15 pm
Will the REAL James Jones please stand up? This punishment obviously does not fit the crime. SERIOUSLY! Termination over a cookout? How absurd!!! I know there have been more serious violations of board policy than a cookout. Even so, a written or verbal reprimand would have been more sufficient, unless this was a recurring situation. Your first comment was that you (Jones) were going in a new direction (the generic comment from DCSS authority figures when they can’t or won’t face the person or have no real grounds for discipline or dismissal). This is not the way to treat anybody especially a professional, even though Dekalb is forever commenting about behaving professionally. This was indeed not PREMIER DEKALB. Look at all the negative press Dekalb School System is experiencing: out of 21 high schools only 6 made AYP; grade changing scandal; test changes scandal. Makes you want to say HMMMMMMMMM!!!!!! Remember, you reap what you sow, more than you sow and later than you sow. Obviously, you have forgotten how most of you got where you are. It certainly was not earned nor by merit. You have scratched, clawed, maneuvered and pushed people aside to make your way toward the top; remember what goes up MUST come down. What happened to helping the children? How does a cookout on school grounds violate any DCSS board policy? I’ve been told of cookouts with grills during school time. Who gave permission for them? Was it the cookout or you just wanted to put “your boy” in control, so that he can make more money and not just be in a clerical position as Athletic Director, certifying students’ eligibility? How can you possibly justify to the students you have their best interest at heart when you are clearly not functioning as a leader on whom they can depend?
#17
August 28th, 2009
1:24 pm
MAN CT YOU SAID A MOUTH FULL. NOT ONLY WAS COACH MORE LET GO BUT THERE WERE 14 OTHER COACHES THAT WERE NOT RETAINED THAT GAVE THEIR ALL TO THE PROGRAM. THIS IS A TRAVESTY . IN ALL FAIRNESS TO THE KIDS WE NEED THE COMMUNITY TO STILL GO OUT AND SUPPORT THE TEAM BECAUSE THEY NEED IT NOW MORE THAN EVER. TO BE HONEST MR.JONES AND COACH APRIL ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH WHAT GOES ON AT MCNAIR. THERE ONCE UPON A TIME WHEN MCNAIR HAD A GREAT BASEBALL,BASTEKBALL,FOOTBALL,TRACK,WRESTLEING,BAND PROGRAMS THERE BUT EVER SINCE MR JONES TOOK OVER ALL SPORTS HAVE GONE TO HELL. HE NEEDS TO GO ALONG WITH THE WHOLE ADMINISTRATION.BUT I WILL SAY THIS WHEN MO AND HIS ENTIRE STAFF LAND ON THEIR FEET IN ANOTHER PLACE THEY WILL REGRET DOING THIS TO US.
MAD AS HELL
August 28th, 2009
1:41 pm
IT IS ALSO SAD THAT SOME OF THE PARENTS ON THE TEAM WERE AGINST COACH MO FOR SOME REASON. BUT WHEN YOUR KIDS DONT GET RECRUITED BLAME COACH APRIL AND MR JONES,AND MR HARRELL THEY ARE NOT MCNAIR GUYS. WE HAD A STAFF THAT WAS FULL OF MCNAIR ALUMNI AND SWD ALUMNI THAT COULD HAVE ONLY BEEN A ASSEMBLED BY COACH MO. WE TAUGHT THE KIDS THAT YOU MUST HAVE GOOD CHARACTER FIRST AND FOREMOST. COACH MO ESTABLISHED A YOUTH LEAGE CALLED THE DEKALB TROJANS THAT WAS A FEEDER PROGRAM FOR MCNAIR WITH OVER 150 KIDS FROM AGES 6-14 HE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE SCHOLLS IN THE MCNAIR CLUSTER TO HAVE A FOOTBALL CAMP FOCUSING ON CHARACTER BUILDING FIRST AND FOOTBALL SKILLS SECOND. MY QUESTION IS WHAT ABOUT ALL THESE YOUNG KIDS THAT HAD ASPIRED TO BECOME A MUSTANG ? FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 5 YEARS WE HAD OVER 85 PLAYERS IN THE PROGRAM COULD HAVE HAD 100 BUT DIDNT HAVE ENOUGH HELMETS. BAD MOVE MR JONES I HOPE THAT AFTER THIS YOU CAN SLEEP GOOD AT NIGHT BECAUSE WHAT YOU DONE WAS DISRUPT A WHOLE COMMUNITY TO MAKE A EXAMPLE OUT OF ONE PERSON. HOPE THAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE A MAN!!!
TRACEY FARRIE
August 28th, 2009
1:46 pm
I AM A PARENT OF A 11TH AN 12TH GRADER, COACH MOORE HAS HAD AN MAJOR IMPACT IN MY SONS LIFE. MY KIDS LOOK UP TO COACH MOORE AS AN MENTOR FATHER FRIEND A BIG BROTHER. MY 11TH GRADER PLAYS FOOTBALL FOR COACH MOORE HE IS DEVASTATED OF THE DECISION BY MR. JONES MY SONS HE SAYS HE HAS LOST RESPECT FOR HIM FOR THE WAY HE GOT RID OF COACH MOORE. I PERSONALLY HAD A MEETING WITH MR, JONES AND HE WAS VERY COLD HEARTED AND DISTANCE TO ME… I ASKED HIM THE QUESTION OF HAVE YOU WENT TO THE LOCKER ROOM AND SEE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO THESE BOYS? HOW THEY ARE ALL CRYING AN UPSET.. HIS RESPONSE TO ME WAS.. TIME WILL HEAL THEM … HOW CAN YOU BE THAT COLD HEARTED TO A GROUP OF KIDS THAT 1 MAN(COACH MOORE) HAS THAT KIND OF IMPACT ON.. COACH MOORE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME AND MY SONS SPIRTUALLY, PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. HE HAS TURNED MY SON AROUND A COMPLETE 360. I WILL ALWAYS BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO COACH MOORE. MY KIDS LOVE HIM AND THEY ARE VERY UPSET ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED. WHEN I LEFT OUT OF MR JONES OFFICE ON WEDNESDAY, I FELT HURT DISRESPECTED AND VIOLATED FROM A MAN WHOM I THOUGHT HAD BETTER PEOPLE SKILLS AN BUSINESS ABOUT HIMSELF THAN THAT. I FEEL COACH MOORE IS DUE IS FAIR PROCESS AND IT WAS NEVER GRANTED TO HIM AND EVERYONE DESERVES THAT IN EVERY PROFFESSIONAL SITUATION,, MR JONES IS NOT BEING FAIR OR CONSIDERATE IN HIS DECISION MAKING,, I SPOKE WITH DR. SIMPSON AND HE TOLD ME THE DECISION WAS TOTALLY LEFT UP TO MR. JONES, I INVITED DR. SIMPSON TO THE MEETING TODAY AT 5 P.M. AT MCNAIR HIGH HE TOLD HE WAS BUSY AN COULD NOT MAKE IT. AFTER CALLING HIM 4 TIMES HE FINALLY RESPONDED HOW ABOUT THAT? I HAVE CALLED SARAH WOOD 3 TIMES AND SHE HAS RESPONDED YET HOW ABOUT THAT FOR SUPOORT SOMEONE WHO IS ALL ABOUT THE KIDS I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE. IN CONCLSION COACH MOORE HOLD YOUR HEAD UP HIGH I GOT YOUR BACK AND ME AND MY SONS LOVE YOU AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING THERE FOR US AN I AS A MOTHER THANKS YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING THE ROLE MODEL YOU ARE FOR MY SONS AND FOR THE BEGINING OF A GREAT FUTURE FOR THEM.. I CANNOT GIVE THAT CREDIT TO MR JONES I GIVE IT ALL TO YOU JOB WELL DONE SIR!!!!!!!
Coach
August 28th, 2009
1:57 pm
We’ll take him up here in Hall County any day!! I agree that there has to be something else going on here other than miscommunication over a pregame meal. But, Atlanta schools are becoming a joke, so it wouldn’t suprise me if that was all that happened.
Momo
August 28th, 2009
2:12 pm
It’s a shame. Coach Mo was an asset to the team and to the school in general. He had much respect from the students and the parents in the community. I am so glad that I am out of the Dekalb County school system because this is the kind of mess that we have to endure… He will truly be missed at McNair!
CT
August 28th, 2009
2:23 pm
THE FIRST PART OF MY MESSAGE DIDN’T POST!!! IT WAS SIMILAR TO THIS…
ITS MESSED UP WHAT THEY DID TO MUSTANG FOOTBALL… Yall Mustang Alumn need to call the Superintendent’s office and go the heck off!! 678-676-2803 and the school board office for Sarah Copeland-Wood at 404-371-1490 or Ms Zepora Roberts… at 404-284-7314 how much MUSTANG PRIDE DO YOU HAVE??? Support Bigg Mo!!! EVERYONE READING THIS MESSAGE THAT KNOW HIM *OR* ME…SHOULD TAKE 5MINS, CALL AND DEMAND ANSWERS!
Also need to put pressure on the media to ask the tough questions on OUR behave. Contact the AJC Publisher – Michael Joseph, 404-526-5889.
Now the real part of the story: This actually began when Mr.Jones came to MHS a few years ago just before football camp. He met with Coach Mo and Me, (as I was second in charge) and discussed our program goals and what his expectations were. He soon saw that his goals and OUR goals were one and the same. He pledged that he was going to support the program and its Coaches. He asked us to make a list of things we needed and problems or concerns that we need addressed. Shortly after that, Coach Moore was informed that he would be removed from the High School and relocated to the Middle School. Coach Moore objected and tried his appeal to every source he could. After he exhausted his listening audience, I, as system-wide administrator, took up the cause placing my job at risk BECAUSE IT WAS THAT IMPORTANT TO ME THAT COACH MOORE STAYED IN THE BUILDING. Yes, the Head Football Coach was not in the building. Not only that, NOT A SINGLE PERSON ON STAFF HAD A POSITION AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. So the program was being run with NO COACHES in the school all day.
I rallied the parents together. I gave them the Board Policies that Governed teacher displacement and the use of “FTE points”. I showed them the LAW as it was written concerning teacher certification. I gave them the rules, the results, and the numbers to the people that mis-applied the rules for this situation.
The parent then called a meeting with Dr. Simpson, Area Superintendent, Ms. Wood, School Board Member, and James Jones, Principal. Of course, when these three tried to pull wool over the eyes of the parents and tell them lies about what the law is, the parents spoke up and showed that they knew exactly what the law and board policies were. The meeting got heated and ended with Dr. Simpson basically calling them ignorant parents and he and Ms. Wood walking out. Afterward, Coach Moore was called into the office and asked why he didn’t stop the parents from “attacking” them at the meeting. He was then “bullied” into asking the parents to call off any additional things they had planned to do. He told them it was, “In the best interest of the program”, that he accept their decision. This came only after they threatened to take serious disciplinary actions against any student that participated in the “walk-out” that was scheduled to happen that day as part of their protest.
Since then, Mr. Jones as been NOTHING IN THE WAY OF SUPPORTIVE. He has done everything to keep Coach Moore from returning to the building. He has made it virtually impossible to do anything positive for the program. We were even called into the office for sending our “recruiting guide” out to all of the colleges in the Country. Yes, we paid (out of OUR pockets) to send a full-color book and DVD highlight of EVERY Junior and Senior prospect in our program to OVER 150 schools). We did this EVERY YEAR since 2003, THAT’S WHY WE GET SO MANY KIDS IN SCHOOL!! But Mr. Jones felt like by sending out these materials TO COLLEGES, we showed them that our kids weren’t as smart as the rest of the schools. Nevermind the fact that this, each year, resulted in scholarships for these kids that might not have otherwise been made known to the school that offered them. HOW MANY OTHER COACHING STAFFS DO THIS??
Each and every time we did something that made the program stand out as “great” or “positive”, we got called into the office and asked “who authorized” us to be great basically.
Then, when we allowed him to “micro-manage” the team by flooding him with every little detail, he complained that we were not running the team if we needed his input on every little thing. That’s were his two flunkies, Mr. Harrell (not COACH Harrell), and Mr. April came in.
Carl
August 28th, 2009
2:28 pm
This is absolute garbage. I’ve kept up with this man from a far for years and the impact he has had on these young men is tremendous. He has sent so many kids to college in a school where many young men don’t see that road as a viable option. The principal needs to be fired for not doing what’s in the best interest of the kids. Coach Moore got results on and off the football field. I hope the South Dekalb community takes issue with this and write their local school board to have Coach Moore reinstated and the principal fired.
Duke DeLuca
August 28th, 2009
2:33 pm
Didn’t get permission to grill?
Gimme a break. No wonder people are so distrustful of those who run our schools.
Someone needs to look into this. On the surface, it appears McNair needs a new principal.
Eric B.
August 28th, 2009
3:04 pm
I went to high school with Coach Moore aka Mo Boy. He was always a stand up dude. I followed his career and heard about all the great things he was doing as far as getting these kids scholarships who coming from a hard, tough, urban neighborhood, otherwise might have been breaking into cars, selling dope, carjacking, etc. Unless he REALLY did something bad, and something TERRIBLE is being left unsaid, he needs to be rehired with the quickness. PLEASE call the Dekalb Co. School Board and McNair High if you agree.
Former Mustang
August 28th, 2009
3:06 pm
For the past 10 years, Coach Moore has put his blood, sweat, and tears into the McNair football program. Under his watch, along with former head coach Johnny Gilbert. McNair football has come from the door mat of Dekalb County to a program known across the state. For example, my freshman year in the football program we were 3-7, sophomore year 0-10, junior year 8-3, senior year 10-3. After my career was done I went on to earn a full scholarship to a major D-1 school, I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree. Along with a host of other student-athletes that came through McNair. Not only did he send me to school, he sent over hundred kids to school and not just for athletics. Many of McNair alums went on to better there education as regular students. Coach Moore is a god-fearing, humble man. He taught us responsibility, accountability, and to always put god first in whatever you as a man decide to do. For the sake of the young men and women at McNair Sr. High School, I hope that Coach Moore is reinstated. Oh yeah, along with Coach Moore the entire coaching staff has been gutted. So who has the best interest of the kids at heart. You go and fire an established coach whom has proven that he can win and get kids out of South Dekalb cty on to better things. Then you hire a coach who took a prominent basketball program at McNair to the crapper. This coach went 2-23 with the basketball team. Whom couldnt handle 12 kids. What makes anyone think that he can handle 80 kids. Come on people lets be real. The decision that was made will be regreted after saturday. Also to the parents who really wanted to see this happen. Lets see how your kids benefit now!!!!!
TRUTH
August 28th, 2009
3:18 pm
Mo is the TRUTH. Know this man from church and know him to be the real deal to young men and his faith is unwavering. Mo, keep moving man. There is much better awaiting you. Obviously, this beauracrat is NOT thinking of the young men you’ve positively affected. He probably does not have their best interest at heart and is clearly power tripping. Best to you Mo. My heart goes out to those young men that have lost their coach.
Fat Albert
August 28th, 2009
3:23 pm
Yo peeps! Why yous rightin all in CAPS! Yous peeps shoutin or sumtin?
Sick of DeKalb Schools
August 28th, 2009
3:57 pm
Moore was an asset to the football program. James Jones is childish and trival. Jones is the one that should be under investigation. He doesn’t practice what he preaches. McNair has lost many good teachers that had the true interest of the kids at heart because Jones can’t grow up and stop holding grudges. Don’t worry Coach Moore…his day will come!!!
TXDawg (from Decatur to Mansfield, TX)
August 28th, 2009
3:58 pm
Somewhere up the blog, I read a comment that Coach Moore was the best football coach McNair has ever seen. I don’t disagree. I grew up a stone throw away from old Walker High School, kept tabs on the football program since the first year of existence as McNair back in 87/88 (when Fleetwood, Big Joe, and the boys were doing their thing). I didn’t go to school there but always felt the connection since it was the neighborhood school and many of my friends and neighbors went there. I have been proud to see the Football Program doing so well despite many of the challenges.
There have been many negative comments about a Dekalb County Athletic Programs/Facilities and they are probably warranted. But remember the programs that are being compared against have money pouring in from the community, boosters, and in some instances former players. McNair is in a lower middle-class area, so there is no influx of funds coming in from the community and boosters. But despite all of this, Coach Moore obviously created a tight-knit football program that, in my opinion, beat the odds. He deserves better than this and justice will be served in some manner……if you don’t believe in KARMA…..keep watching his outcome.
Greg
August 28th, 2009
3:58 pm
Sounds to me like the kids are the losers in this case. He had 60 of his players to go to college, Mcnair will look back and see their mistake.
MUSTANG 4 LIFE
August 28th, 2009
4:15 pm
IF THE COUNTY SITS ON THEIR HANDS THEN WE MUST EXPOSE THOES ON THE BOARD OF EDU. MS SARA COPELAND WOODS WHO IS OVER THE DISTRICT APPROVED A LAND PURCHASE THAT WAS PRICED @ OVER 2 MILLION DOLLARS FOR A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT IS GOING ON @ MCNAIR . THE LAND IN QUESTION SITS IN A FLOOD PLAIN AND CANT BE DEVELOPED WHICH THAT 2 MILLION DOLLARS OF THE DEKALB COUNTY TAXPAYERS MONEY WAS WASTED ON LAND THAT CANT BE DEVELOPED. THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY TO WASTE IN THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES. WE NEEDD TO MAKE THEM EXPLAIN THESE ACTIONS AS WELL AS THE ACTIONS TO FIRE COACH MO!!
Fire James Jones
August 28th, 2009
4:16 pm
James Jones you should be ashamed of yourself! Moore was for the kids. Grilling without prior approval is the reason for ousting someone good for the students. Mr. Jones you should be investigated for flirting with the teachers and pursuing the younger ones into your bed. You should be investigated for lying to your wife and about your age. Your slick and sly ways should be investigated. We see you. I see you and know what you’re all about. Your illegal antics to improve the school should be investigated. Forcing teachers to pass kids should be investigated. Graduating kids who have missed over 50 days should be investigated. Transferring excellent teachers because of your personal indifference. Shame, Shame!!! Careful…Mr. Jones, God is watching you and he may not be pleased.
lilchina
August 28th, 2009
4:23 pm
they need to bring coach mo back to our school….we miss him so much and they let him go for tryn to feed his players….thy should have fired our principal instead…he’s the one abusing his authority!!!!
slalom1
August 28th, 2009
7:23 pm
REEZE, If this is the entire story, I agree with you. This is a shameful dismissal. However if there is more to the story, why is everyone in the so called “media” today so fearful of simply “telling the truth”? (At least as they see it.) Not saying that the entire truth has not been spoken. But before dismissing someone who appears to be a sensible head coach, if there is any more to the story it should be made clear to the public before the dismissal.
I believe there might be more to the story. But not about Coach Moore. It will turn out to be about the administrators.
dekalb jacket
August 29th, 2009
1:34 am
i am a former mcnair student not player and coach moore impacted my life also. first of all, let me expalin who he was to the mcnair community. 1st wed all know he was the football coach he was also the baseball coach, wrestling assistant coach, mc of the school pep rallys and he knew how to get everyone hyped bout being a mustang for that momment u forgot about what was goin on in the streets. this man did the morning anouncements i mean this guy really cared i heard this guy voice every day for four years man it is kinda like loosing skip carry. i remember when moore had the boys go help katrina victims in 2005 he sent countless guys to college. i remember coach moore riding through the hood like the police sweeping his players off the street corners i remember moore raiding house dangerous house parties andmaking his players leave saying making sure these guys stay out of trouble i remember moore calling his player and there parents to make sure thaT THEY RE DOING HOME WORK AND NOT SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON THE VIDEO GAME SOUNDS LIKE A FATHER HUH WELL MOST OF THESE KIDS DONT HAVE FATHERS AND HE ACTUALLY TOOK IT AMONG HIMSELF TO PLAY THIS ROLE. SOME OF THESE PLYS CAME FROM FAMILIES FULL OF DRUG USER AND DEALERS AND HE WAS THEIR ONLY POSTIVE MALE ROLE MODEL. I MET MOORE IN THE 9TH GRADE I HAd a mouth full of gold teeth and had onbaggy pants but moore did not judgeme and he stayed on me and talked to about choices like i was one of his players moore is mcnair we already lst gilbertand have not been the sam since now moore i just hope those mustangs still play hard for moore and give me some to chee bout because i amsad rite now it feel like i lost a family member i am so heart broken now . moore is respected by his peers if u dont belive me read the article after last years mlk game and the quote from coach jarvis. i hope every one mcnair fans, dekalb county fans atlanta cobb gwinett south georgia i dont care where u from rally aroundthese boys and this coach
Coach Bigg Mo
August 29th, 2009
1:35 am
Thank you all for your support, but my boys need your prays and support, I will always be a Mustang but if things don’t change I have to move forward. And McNair Football will move into a new direction without me. I love the McNair Community for all the support it has shown me the past 10 years. I will not throw rocks at anyone because God will handle the people who hurt his children and right now 80 kids are hurting and someone will have to account for their actions and decisions. So to all the AJC Bloggers thank you and hope to see you at the game I will be on the 50 yard line at the top supporting my boys. And maybe for the last time McNair Family “I am holding up two and I’m Out PEACEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!”
Gwendolyn Rafter
August 29th, 2009
11:21 am
I am surprised to see a “leader” of to day using tranactional process such as what Principal Jones has used. Those type of leadership modes are so outdated. Transformation leadership principles should have been applied to ensure that Coach Moore continued to coach his team. I feel that very little thought was given to the impact and that much of this was do to a lack of strategic planning on how the impact would be on the school, team, community and with as less resistance. Dekalb County Board of Education needs to seriously look at how decisions are made of this magnitude and how they can impact the entire program. Every professionally trained leader knows that inorder to have buy in for change you must first make people feel included in the process. If Mr. Jones was truyly on the up and up with his decision he would have given other stakeholder a chance to buy in. I hope the school board quickly recognized the lack of importance that Mr. Jones have given to state and federal employment laws before he makes a decision of this magnitude again.
Yes, I have known Rod Moore since he was a young boy in he is a magnificent young man. He will continiue to florish.
SportsFan31313
August 29th, 2009
3:15 pm
I did’nt attend McNair High School nor do i know Coach Moore but after reading the blogs, there seems to be an enormous amount of support for the Former Head Coach. My suggestion is since Coach Moor has made such an significant impact on these Kids, the parents who hold the power, should ALL at one time go to the Board Of Education and demand that Coach Moore be reinstated.
SportsFan31313
August 29th, 2009
3:17 pm
Coach Moore,
Ever thought about moving up North? I have friends, and Fraternity Brothers could definitely use your coaching talent, philosophy, and wisdom in coaching the kids up there.
C. Wayne Miller
August 29th, 2009
3:52 pm
Enter your comments here
C. Wayne Miller
August 29th, 2009
3:53 pm
I bet they forgot to give the Principal a plate of BBQ!!
John Doe
August 29th, 2009
4:28 pm
Yes! Everybody is right, there is more to this story and I know what. From what I’m hearing Coach Moore is not a certified teacher at the high school level. So you bumb fools want a man to teach MATH at the school with no certification. The Gerogia Law states that everybody has to be highly trained. Coach moore had over six years to get his certification and he could not pass the test. Its all about accountabilty. With this NCLB Act and McNair hasn’t made AYP in years and one of the areas that are holding them back is Math. I dont blame the principal. We all say its about the kids. what about the other 1300 students in the school that principal Jones is trying to help by getting a teacher in there that can add 2+2. Thanks and I’m gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Arnold
August 29th, 2009
5:58 pm
This doesn’t make any since to take this action right before the season opener. I’m sure many of the players walked off the team when this happen because of their feelings towards the following years. Just don’t make since!
Dee Gut
August 29th, 2009
6:31 pm
yo dats crazy.. how u go fire big MO.. Coach Mo was da life and heart of not only the football team but Mcnair as a whole… There’s more to this story.. Maybe some hating was going on with the pricipal against MO… best of luck to u Coach…
nene
August 29th, 2009
7:32 pm
MCNAIR AIN’T THE SAME WITHOUT U THE PEP RALLY WASN’T A PEP RALLY ALL THE STUDENTS VERY UPSET AND WE WANT HIM BACK
Fat Albert
August 29th, 2009
8:21 pm
I poop myself at the Pep Rallies, I so dam mad!
Tim S.
August 29th, 2009
11:11 pm
The adults should have handled this in another way. Those kids bonded with that coach all summer and now you fire him about a team meal at the school. And you guys suppose to be the ones setting the examples and preparing this kids for life.