Popular Longtime
Coach Being Placed
In Horrible Situation

San Francisco Section

May 3, 2005

July 17-22

Track & Field Camps - March
20; June & July

Coach May Lose Job to PE Teacher

By Tony Dear.

A long-time coach is currently facing the possible loss of one of his positions because of the district teachers' contract.

Coach Andy Leong, Class of '80, who has been coaching cross country for 15 years and track for 18 years, may not coach cross country next fall because physical education teacher Michael Prutz has asked to take over his position.

Leong and the students supporting him say that Prutz has been pursuing the job for several weeks. Leong said that he offered Prutz an assistant coaching position last fall before he knew Prutz was interested in his position. Prutz refused the offer. Leong said that after he knew that Prutz wanted the job, he offered compromises to Prutz: splitting the team by gender and allowing each to coach a section. He also offered to spend a year training Prtuz before leaving, Prutz was not interested, according to Leong.

Prutz said that he believes the change would be best for the students because an on-campus teacher is more beneficial for the athletes.

According to the Teacher Contract, Section 5.15, "the District shall not utilize non-bargaining unit teachers provided there are qualified, available and willing bargaining unit teachers to perform said functions."

Prutz, "qualified, available and willing," appears to have a legal right to coach the cross country team. Since Leong is a "non-bargaining unit teacher," the district would appear to favor Prutz over Leong.

Despite the contract, many students are petitioning for Leong to stay as cross country coach and threatening to leave the team if Prutz gets the position next year.

Until eight or nine years ago, Leong said that he was treated with status equal to faculty memebers, adding that he was allowed to take his teams on trips without an on-campus faculty member. But when another team was involved in a hazing incident, rules were changed so that Leong and other "walk-on coaches" would not have the same privileges as "on-campus" coaches. Leong said that safety had never been a problem for his team. "Nothing has ever happened on one of my trips," he said.

Now, he has "the responsibility of a teacher, but not the same rights of a teacher," he said, referring to the contract rules.

Leong has been cross country coach since 1990, and has led the varsity girls' team to 15 championships and the varsity boys' team to 13 champioinships. In addition, he has been the head track and field coach for 18 years, with 18 varsity girls' championships, and 10 varsity boys' championships.

Leong said that he rigorously trains his teams, starting cross country practices in mid-August and ending with the state championship in November. After the Lowell teams end their training each day, Leong coaches at other schools too. He said that he can easily put in 85 hours in two weeks. "I don't think that many people like myself put in as many hours as I do," he said.

Leong said that the cross country and track teams hold a special place in high school by giving students a sense of belonging.

"Many people would say, 'If it wasn't for cross country or track, I wouldn't have a home at Lowell,'" he said. "People get lost without an outlet to call a home base. It's grossly unfair that I don't get to finish what I started. I've been there for the kids when teachers weren't there for them."

Leong said that some students come from schools in which physical education programs do no exist, and he says he works patiently with them to teach them the mechanics of running and teamwork.

Students say that he is a dedicated coach and important to the team.

Leong "definately is more than an experienced coach," cross country runner senior Jenny AuYeung said. "It's like he pulled the team from ashes when they were small."

Cross country team member sophomore Jeena Arnold agreed. "Andy's raised this team for so long," she said. "We need someone (like him) to help us train. We need him."

Cross country team member freshman Sarah Gilchrist added that Leong is "the kind of guy that motivates the team."

Many of Leong's former runners have expressed their support for Leong. Class of '02 alumnus Alan Herzfeld personally met with principal Paul Cheng to discuss the situation. "Andy's been the coach here for so long," Herzfeld said. "He's built a hugely successful and popular program - the best in the city by far. He always pushes everyone to do the best they can and a little more."

Class of '04 alumnus assistant track coach Michael Speech said that Leong is "a good coach. He turned people who couldn't run into good runners. I've known him since I was seven because he coached my aunt."

Prutz, however, is taking the controversy calmly. "People are entitled to their own opinions," he said. "They can say whatever they say; I wouldn't care. I think that (Andy) has done a great job. It's just that on-campus coaches are better for the team."

Although students disagree, Cheng said that little can be done because the district contract has priority. However, Cheng has also said that he realizes that it is hard for people to accept this change.

"Change is hard," he said. "There are certain things in life we may not agree with. (Students) will go through life and run into situations like this. But you have to consider all sides before jumping to conclusions," he added.