Valley Huskers president Jack Covey had little to say about the verbal beat-down his former head coach laid on the organization’s board of directors Monday.
Covey said he didn’t want to get into a back and forth with Jason Quinter, who was fired by the BC Football Conference team last week.
“Releasing a coach mid-season is not taken without due deliberation,” Covey said. “The release of the head coach has nothing to do with the win-loss record. Not a thing.”
“The board feels this is one of the most competent teams we’ve had over the last few years, and they’ve been successful in showing improvement each game.”
“This was primarily due to concerns expressed by the players and coaches to the board, and the board’s own concerns.”
In Wednesday’s Chilliwack Progress sports section, Quinter said he was fired because he failed to attend board meetings.
Covey flatly denied that.
“No,” he said.
But he wouldn’t elaborate on the ‘concerns’ behind the firing either, leaving a lot to the imagination.
The lack of open player revolt to his firing suggests Quinter wasn’t nearly as popular as his predecessor, Adam Smith, within the locker room.
But the world’s full of successful coaches who aren’t well-liked but get results, and Quinter may fit that profile.
Even Covey admitted the team was moving in the right direction this season after years of inertia.
If the problems with Quinter went beyond his coaching persona rubbing players the wrong way, Covey’s not saying.
He wouldn’t comment on whether the board would adjust its hiring practices after hiring and firing five bench bosses since 2009.
And he had no response for Quinter’s open criticism of the board.
Covey would only say the Huskers are energized and excited and ready to play out the rest of the season.
They hit the field Saturday night, 7 p.m. at Exhibition Stadium, seeking their first win against the Kamloops Broncos.
See valleyhuskers.org or bcfootballconference.com for more.