Coaches Question Motives of Inglewood District : Education: District sets new guidelines for coaches and declares all positions vacant. Coaches, who must reapply for their jobs, say they are being singled out for poor academic performances of athletes.

Few would dispute Carl Franklin’s success as coach of the Morningside High boys’ basketball team. In 16 seasons, his teams have won or tied for a league title 13 times, reached a CIF final twice--including last season--and sent many players to college.

Two of Franklin’s former players, Byron Scott and Elden Campbell, play for the Lakers.

But despite that record, the Inglewood Unified School District has removed Franklin as coach, asking him to reapply if he wishes to keep his job.

In a move that has coaches questioning the motives behind it, the district has declared all coaching positions vacant at Morningside and Inglewood in an effort to redefine the roles that coaches play in the academic development of their athletes.

“We are frankly embarrassed that we have students who are great athletes who cannot pass the (Scholastic Aptitude Test),” said Hollis Dillon, director of special services for the district and author of a new job description for coaches. “If it means we have to do more work to prevent that, we are going to do it.”

But coaches question why they are being singled out. Some believe it might be because the district is trying to replace certain coaches.

“Are they doing this with administrators?” asked Art Bias, the Inglewood boys’ basketball coach. “Are they doing it with the teachers? When it’s done differently for one group, I think it’s because they are trying to get rid of people.”

Some suspect Franklin is the primary target. Although Morningside won the Ocean League basketball title and reached the Southern Section Division III-A final last season, the Monarchs’ top senior, 6-foot-7 Arthur Savage, failed to score 700 on the SAT, the minimum test score required by the NCAA for freshman eligibility. Savage reportedly will play for a community college this year.

There have also been reports that administrators are concerned about the academic progress of Stais Boseman, Morningside’s All-CIF guard. The 6-foot-3 junior was The Times’ South Bay Player of the Year last season, the first 10th grader so honored. (Students must carry at least a 2.0 grade-point average in the previous semester to maintain athletic eligibility.)

Said a coach, who requested anonymity: “They are trying to get rid of Franklin. I know so.”

Franklin said he has heard similar reports.

“In a small district like ours,” he said, “usually rumors aren’t too far from the truth.”

Dillon, however, disputes such assumptions.

“This is not an attempt to go out and eliminate anyone,” he said. “It is an attempt to refocus and restate what our vision is for our young men and young women. We need to restate that through our coaches.”

Frustrated by the inability of many of the district’s finer athletes to maintain eligibility and move on to four-year colleges, Dillon authored a nine-point job description that spells out what is expected of coaches (see accompanying box). Coaches wishing to keep their jobs must go through an interview with parents, administrators and students and sign an agreement stating that they will abide by the new job description.

Coaches of fall sports, including football, are temporarily exempt from reapplying because there is not enough time to advertise, conduct interviews and fill the positions. They will be required to reapply after the completion of their respective seasons. New coaches, such as Inglewood football Coach Angelo Jackson, will not be required to reapply.

But Ron Randle, named coach of the Morningside girls’ basketball team last year, must go through the hiring process again.

“It is important to note that we did not fire any coaches,” Dillon said. “We simply said, ‘All coaching positions are vacant.’ With that, we brought to the board (of education) a new job description and criteria.

“Coaches put in a lot of hours and get some magnificent results. However, we are not happy or satisfied with the number of kids who were not able to pass SATs and go to major universities, even when they have those kinds of (athletic) skills.”

Coaches argue that it is unfair to hold them responsible for the academic failures of their athletes. They also question how the district can expect them to shoulder additional responsibilities, considering they are among the lowest-paid coaches in the state.

Football coaches, the highest-paid in the district, receive a $1,400 stipend, a figure that doesn’t come close to compensating them for the amount of time they must spend to perform their jobs competently. Basketball coaches receive about $1,200.

“I think it’s a good idea to ask coaches to be more responsible,” said Randle, who guided the Morningside girls to the State Division I basketball final last season. “But if you ask coaches to add more responsibilities and you don’t give them a nickel for it, you’re asking a whole lot.

“It’s a difficult thing to absorb, especially when you believe you’re already doing all you can do.”

Randle, Franklin, Bias and Ron Tatum, who coaches football and the reigning state champion girls’ track team at Morningside, all said they monitor the academic progress of their athletes as closely as possible. They provide a study hall period for athletes and frequently are involved in fund-raising and community activities. Coaches also serve as pseudo parents to many youngsters.

And they are asking: How much more does the district expect from us?

“It’s a funny thing,” Bias said. “I’ve been coaching for over 20 years, and it’s really sad to see some of the things that are going on. The attitudes of some people of what a coach is supposed to be and supposed to do are unrealistic. They would rather complain about what didn’t happen than try to be part of a program and help the coach.

“You can only do so much . . . The home has to be involved, too. If we’re pushing the kids and (the parents) aren’t pushing, it doesn’t work. It has to be a threefold thing between the parents, the teachers and the coaches.”

Bias, who has coached the Inglewood basketball team eight of the past 11 years and guided the Sentinels to the Bay League title last season, said he will not reapply for his coaching job as a matter of principle.

“I feel it’s a slap in the face for the coaches,” he said. “We shouldn’t have to go through this kind of crap. As long as I’m doing 100% and have my kids’ best interests in mind, then that’s what should be required. That should be the bottom line.

“The things (the district is) saying, I agree with. If they want to open jobs up and make a change, that’s fine too. But I’m not going to fight for my job. I can do too many other things with my time.”

Dillon said coaches who refuse to embrace the expectations of the new job description will not be rehired.

“We would have to sever our ties,” he said.

However, Dillon said he expects most of the current coaches to be rehired.

“I would not be surprised if people in present positions come out as the top people again,” he said. “We are going to fly the jobs, and the reason is clear. We want the very best people in these positions.”

Still, coaches are having a hard time understanding why they must reapply for their jobs in order to carry out the new guidelines.

“I think it’s an unnecessary step,” Franklin said. “They could achieve everything they want to achieve by mandate. I don’t see any more significance to have someone reapply.”

Said Bias: “I understand what they are trying to do, but I think it’s the wrong way. I still think there is more behind what they are saying.”

How much more, only time will tell.

Coaching Criteria

The following nine-point job description has been approved by the Board of Education for high school coaches in the Inglewood Unified School District:

* Develop and implement a system of monitoring both attendance and academic performance to assure eligibility of student athletes.

* Develop a tutorial program designed to prepare student athletes for college eligibility (passing Scholastic Aptitude Test). This program will be implemented during a study hall period in which all student athletes will be required to participate as a condition of their athletic eligibility. The program will be implemented throughout the school year and monitored by the coach.

* Provide assistance and guidance to the student athlete as he/she selects a program of higher learning.

* Develop and implement a fund-raising component.

* Develop and implement a community-service component.

* Develop and implement a parent-involvement component.

* Develop and implement a system designed to assure the protection and accountability of all equipment, along with instruction in the safe use of the equipment.

* Demonstrate organizational skills as they relate to the correct operation of the total program, embracing the district’s philosophy relative to academic and athletic performance.

* Demonstrate the ability to work cooperatively with school staff and the community.