OLQA Coach apologizes

EDITOR’S NOTE: David Hopkins, an Our Lady Queen of Angels coach at the Daily Pilot Cup, was suspended from the tournament Wednesday after he played his daughter in a silver division game when she had already competed in a gold division game.

His daughter continued to play in the tournament. OLQA’s gold team was eliminated in the quarterfinals Saturday after a 3-1 loss to Carden Hall. Hopkins played his daughter in a silver division game Tuesday, when his daughter scored three goals in the second half to beat Rea, 6-4. But Rea was awarded the win Wednesday.

Hopkins, who coached the third- and fourth-grade girls’ teams, wrote an e-mail detailing his remorse about his mistake on Tuesday.

Dear Mr. [Kirk] McIntosh, Mr. [Steve} Virgen, and Pilot Cup Executive Committee Members,

In regards to our Pilot Cup silver division match played on Tuesday, I want to take this opportunity to apologize. During the game, in the heat of the moment, I exercised very poor judgment by substituting an ineligible fourth-grade player who unfairly affected the outcome of the game.

For that, I am deeply sorry.

Please know that my actions in no way represent the attitude and core values of the OLQA parish or school community. Moreover, my actions run opposite to the spirit of The Pilot Cup Tournament, which promotes fun, fair and exciting soccer competition between Newport Beach/Costa Mesa area schools.

Sincerely,

David Hopkins

OLQA Pilot Cup Coach