Coach Christy lashes back at critics, slams investigation into Masuk’s football program

Editor’s Note: Portions of the letter at the end of this article were redacted to protect the identities of specific students. This was discussed with Coach Steve Christy before publication.

MONROE, CT — After months of controversy over an investigation into the Masuk High School football program, Head Coach Steve Christy, who has been on administrative leave, wrote a letter to his players’ families lashing out at his critics, while defending himself and his staff.

“I have remained silent throughout this so-called ‘investigation’ into the alleged culture of my football team,” Christy wrote. “I had done so out of respect for the team, and not wanting to cause any distraction from their season. I have remained silent, despite the horrible gossip and rumors being thrown about, and the constant unwarranted attacks on my character.”

“There is little doubt that the Monroe Board of Education would like nothing better than for me to quietly resign. I will not do so,” he said. “If they want to terminate me, so be it.”

The Board of Education and Superintendent’s office are not commenting on the active investigation. The Board of Education is expected to take action at its meeting on Monday night.

“It’s a sad day for all coaches in every sport around the state,” Christy told The Sun in a telephone call Wednesday evening.

In his letter to parents, Christy called the allegations against him “groundless” and accused the Board of Education and administration of failing to act appropriately and decisively.

“This not only hurt me, but also my fellow coaches, and most importantly our student athletes,” he said. “There is only one just outcome to this ridiculous investigation: the reinstatement of our entire coaching staff along with an apology for disrupting my 32nd year of coaching and placing an unnecessary burden on the players, families, and alumni of our storied program.”

Christy said four disgruntled parents brought “frivolous complaints to our self-serving board of education”, sparking Superintendent of Schools Joseph Kobza, Assistant Superintendent Sheila Casinelli  and the board’s decision to hire an outside lawyer to conduct a “‘prioritized and expedited (as it was promised to be) investigation into the ‘culture’ of our team.”

The coach said Masuk Principal Steve Swensen and Athletic Director Craig Semple had previously completed an investigation, which found “absolutely no wrongdoing.”

“It was obvious that this investigation was not about ‘culture’ or why would the remaining coaches, which I hired, remain in their positions?” Christy wrote. “This was a town funded ‘witch hunt’ to settle personal pettiness all funded by our taxpayers.”

Among the questions Christy said he answered during hours of interviews were about the fitting of a player’s helmet from two years ago, why someone’s son did not receive more playing time, and if he changed a player’s position as a punishment.

“I was asked how often I gave bathroom breaks during film sessions,” Christy said. “I even was asked why I, the school’s head coach, was in the building during the school day. The investigator admittedly knew nothing about football culture or even the most elementary facets of team sports. We were accused of running our training sessions using a ‘militaristic’ style. I thanked them for that compliment.”

Christy said there were promises things would be wrapped up around the 100 day mark, but then called it an obvious stall tactic to fatten lawyers’ pockets.

He recalled how many of the football families begged for the football program to be made whole again.

“Beautifully written heartfelt testimony was delivered at BOE meetings, while our elected officials smirked and buried their heads in cellphones or an iPad,” Christy said.

“As the investigator finished wasting everyone’s time and money, he turned his report over to the Superintendent’s office so a conclusion could finally be reached,” Christy wrote. “We knew there was nothing fireable or even punishable based on the flimsy nature of the questions we were asked.”

The coach said that was over 50 days ago.

“Our administrators have sat on this, unable to decide because there is a 100k dollar question that would have to be answered,” he wrote. “They had to produce something to justify the 100k dollar cost of this fishing expedition.”

Christy said the most recent accusations surfaced a few days ago, including a complaint about the team’s concussion protocol.

“There was a claim that I played injured players ignoring the advice of our trainer,” he said. “This is a complete lie which was disproved with the help of the actual player who was being used as a bluff to secure my resignation. Additionally, there were no complaints in writing or anything ever brought to the athletic director, principal, or administration saying that we disregarded our trainer.”

“It was simply another straw to grasp in hopes that I would resign. So that is what this huge expensive investigation has been reduced to: our town employees hoping that the supposed whispers of a trainer are enough to fire a man, so they won’t be held accountable for collusion and overreach,” Christy added.

Christy said he was supposed to have been invited into the Board of Education’s executive session on July 5, when the investigation began, but was not.

“This should have been handled by our Superintendent’s office,” he said. “It was not. One board member should have recused herself. She did not. The board was supposed to vote in public to move forward. They did not. They instead did an ‘after the fact’ vote three months later to try to cover yet another procedural failure.”

“I will argue that these five months did produce something,” Christy closed. “They proved that our culture and the other coaches who help cultivate it, are a resounding success. Perfect? Not possible. Room for improvement? Always. But there is no denying that we have resurrected a culture of love and inclusion at Masuk High School. Holding student athletes accountable and bringing them together for something bigger than themselves is a badge that our program and town should proudly wear.”

Christy’s letter

Masuk Nation:

I have remained silent throughout this so-called “investigation” into the alleged culture of my football team. I had done so out of respect for the team, and not wanting to cause any distraction from their season. I have remained silent, despite the horrible gossip and rumors being thrown about, and the constant unwarranted attacks on my character. There is little doubt that the Monroe Board of Education would like nothing better than for me to quietly resign. I will not do so. If they want to terminate me, so be it. However, it must be known that not only are these alleged “complaints” groundless, but also it is clearly obvious that the BOE and upper administration failed to act appropriately and decisively. This not only hurt me, but also my fellow coaches, and most importantly our student athletes. There is only one just outcome to this ridiculous investigation: the reinstatement of our entire coaching staff along with an apology for disrupting my 32nd year of coaching and placing an unnecessary burden on the players, families, and alumni of our storied program.

This process started when a group of 4 disgruntled parents {REDACTED} brought their frivolous complaints to our self-serving board of education. They, along with Superintendent Kobza and Assistant Superintendent Casinelli decided to hire an outside lawyer to conduct a ‘prioritized and expedited’ (as it was promised to be) investigation into the ‘culture’ of our team. This team we grew to nearly 80 players from the 40 there were when we took over 3 short years ago. Let it be known that an investigation was already completed by the Masuk Principal Steve Swenson and AD Craig Semple. They concluded that there was absolutely no wrongdoing.

When the ‘independent investigator’ (who happens to be friends with and hired by Monroe BOE/administration attorney, Steve Sedor) finally interviewed me, the absurdities of the allegations were finally brought to light. The accusations deliberately had been kept from us for months. It was obvious that this investigation was not about ‘culture’ or why would the remaining coaches, which I hired, remain in their positions? This was a town funded ‘witch hunt’ to settle personal pettiness all funded by our taxpayers. I answered questions for hours about the fitment of a player’s helmet from 2 years ago. {REDACTED}. I was asked if I moved a player’s position as a punishment. I was asked how often I gave bathroom breaks during film sessions. I even was asked why I, the school’s head coach, was in the building during the school day. The investigator admittedly knew nothing about football culture or even the most elementary facets of team sports. We were accused of running our training sessions using a ‘militaristic’ style. I thanked them for that compliment.

The circus really came to town at around the 100-day mark. They promised things were wrapping up, but this was obviously another stall tactic, so these lawyers could fatten their pockets under the guise that they were helping the families of our program. 100 days of these same families begging for our program to be made whole again. Beautifully written heartfelt testimony was delivered at BOE meetings while our elected officials smirked and buried their heads in cell phones or an iPad. These primary complainants had already removed themselves from the program {REDACTED}, so it made little sense why so many families were being punished to satisfy the irrational complaints of very few.

As the investigator finished wasting everyone’s time and money, he turned his report over to the Superintendent’s office so a conclusion could finally be reached. We knew there was nothing fireable or even punishable based on the flimsy nature of the questions we were asked. This occurred over 50 days ago. 50 days ago, that we were told this was DONE. This suffering has gone on for 159 days total. 159 days to figure out that your complainants fabricated testimony and were upset about positions and playing time? Our administrators have sat on this, unable to decide because there is a 100k dollar question that would have to be answered. They had to produce something to justify the 100k dollar cost of this fishing expedition. The most recent accusations surfaced a few days ago: concussion protocol. There was a claim that I played injured players ignoring the advice of our trainer. This is a complete lie which was disproved with the help of the actual player who was being used as a bluff to secure my resignation. Additionally, there were no complaints in writing or anything ever brought to the athletic director, principal, or administration saying that we disregarded our trainer. It was simply another straw to grasp in hopes that I would resign. So that is what this huge expensive investigation has been reduced to: our town employees hoping that the supposed whispers of a trainer are enough to fire a man, so they won’t be held accountable for collusion and overreach.

I was supposed to have been invited into the MBOE executive session on July 5th when this began. I was not. This should have been handled by our Superintendent’s office. It was not. {REDACTED} board member should have recused herself. She did not. The board was supposed to vote in public to move forward. They did not. They instead did an ‘after the fact’ vote 3 months later to try to cover yet another procedural failure.

I will argue that these 5 months did produce something. They proved that our culture and the other coaches who help cultivate it, are a resounding success. Perfect? Not possible. Room for improvement? Always. But there is no denying that we have resurrected a culture of love and inclusion at Masuk High School. Holding student athletes accountable and bringing them together for something bigger than themselves is a badge that our program and town should proudly wear.

#TeamFirst

Coach Christy

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