Huron varsity football coach Cory Gildersleeve resigns four weeks after brawl
Huron High School football coach Cory Gildersleeve, left, resigned on Thursday a month after being involved in an on-field brawl following Huron's game with Pioneer.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
Four weeks after being involved in an on-field brawl, Huron High School football coach Cory Gildersleeve has resigned.
Multiple sources said Gildersleeve announced that he was stepping down as varsity football coach at the team's annual postseason banquet on Thursday night. Ann Arbor Public Schools director of communications Liz Margolis confirmed on Friday that Gildersleeve has stepped down.
"He did share with the team that he was not going to continue coaching next year," Margolis said.
Margolis said the resignation will in no way affect Gildersleeve's classroom duties with the district. Gildersleeve is a physical education teacher at Huron.
Following Huron's Week 8 game with cross-town rival Pioneer, Gildersleeve was at the center of a on-field brawl that involved multiple players and coaches. The massive fight started after Gildersleeve had heated words for Pioneer coach Paul Test about the coach's late-game tactics in the 35-6 Pioneer win. While yelling at Test, Gildersleeve was struck by Pioneer defensive coordinator Vince Wortman and multiple fights involving players and coaches broke out in the aftermath.
Test said Gildersleeve pushed him during their exchange, which Gildersleeve has vehemently denied. Both head coaches were given two game suspensions, and Wortman was fired by the district. The Ann Arbor Police Department is still investigating the incident, but no charges have been filed against any involved parties yet.
Huron finished the season 0-9. In Gildersleeve's four years as coach, Huron was 9-27, its best year coming in Gildersleeve's first season, 2009, when the team was 5-4.
Neither Gildersleeve nor Huron athletic director Dottie Davis could be reached for comment. Margolis said she expects the job to be posted soon.
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
NoPC
Thu, Nov 15, 2012 : 10:27 p.m.
This is so stupid! Ever since Huron was carved up to make way for Skyline, the school hasn't been the same.
leonard
Sun, Nov 11, 2012 : 10:32 p.m.
Now test needs to follow suit.
strideontime
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 11:54 p.m.
Although Huron is a large high school, it is a high school of scholars and professor's kids. Huron's football players would probably knock the socks off other team's ACT and SAT scores. But sports are great for the students to learn other lessons in life such as physical skills, and working for a common goal with teammates. Having said that, when the district opened the third high school, it spread the sporting talent thin. And probably football was the sport that was hit the hardest @ Huron. So it is what it is. Its great to get a coach into Huron that is willing to teach the boys the fundamentals of football. So this leaves us with the best case scenario we could expect, If they're learning (football), they're winning. In order for the Huron High School football team to establish a winning season, a developmental football program would have to be established to capture and maintain the interest of middle schoolers. Teams like St. Johns turn out large blocking offensive line men because they have such a program. Huron has many other sports and extra-curricular activities that attract players away from the time commitment of football. And so when you ask for a winning season, you are asking for a culture change, not just a coaching change.
Claude Kershner
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.
Hmmmm....what happened the year before when Huron had major academically in eligible problems on their football team?
Claude Kershner
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 4:19 p.m.
Test needs to go too. He lied to the press and told the truth to the cops. He was the one who called the play. Bye!
Jimmyc
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 4:12 p.m.
This is about much more than the fight. Say what you will about who started the brawl or which coach is a good person or not a good person. This is about a coach who went 9 - 27 in four years. The brawl only served as the final nail in the coffin. I can guarantee you that even without the brawl, Gildersleeve would have been gone at the end of the season with a 9-27 record.
Carole
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.
Along with having very good coaches for any particular sporting event, you also need very good referees to insure that the games are played appropriately. I've been to games where there are incidents that should be called by referees and they let them go -- this has even become an issue with pro sports. To all, coaches, players, parents and referees we need to get back to the basics -- professional, respectful and responsible.
Nick Danger
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 12:07 p.m.
Ok Mr Test it's time you do the right thing and follow Gildersleeve's departure
Basic Bob
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.
Running up scores and embarrassing teams has a long history in high school and college football. That does not make it appropriate. The freshmen could have executed a draw, a sweep, or a screen pass. Calling a bomb did not help anyone. In fact it got someone fired. Think about it.
Bogie
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 4:05 a.m.
Being a former Monroe county resident, and high school football player, Cory go west! The schools, parents, and students in this area, want "feel good" coaches. They wouldn't know how to build a team, to save their lives. Head to the farmland of the west, those boys still have old fashioned values. I watched you play, and have a lot of respect for you.
kathy coles
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 4:22 a.m.
As the parent of one of his players and working with him on the Wounded Warrior game, which was the first time ever I can say I have a lot of respect for him too. Not only for the type of coach he is but also for the man he is. My son, who only played for him for a year and was looking forward to next year was very sad when Cory made the announcement. He made sure he went to coach sleeve and shook his hand and thanked him. He is just glad he will still have him as his "coach" next semester when he has him for a teacher.
WWBoDo
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 1:15 a.m.
The fight and all this drivel confirms my opinion that the best High School coaching positions are at schools for orphans!
Ron Granger
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 1 a.m.
How's the FOIA for that video coming?
Susie Q
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 2:57 a.m.
The video shows nothing of import regarding the coaches.
Bashir McCrutcheon
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 1:58 a.m.
FOIA the police report too!
Piledriver
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 10:24 p.m.
Maybe Huron can hire ex-U of M athletic director Bill Martin as a consultant to find their next football coach.......then again on second thought, probably not a good idea.
mby05
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 9:49 p.m.
The player you reference and imply called his own play was a freshmen quaterback brought up to Varsity when our starting quarterback was injured. He and my son have played football together since they could hold a ball. The Pioneer-Huron game, and the very drive in question with one minute to go in the game, was his first time stepping on the Varsity football field, and no, he most definitely did NOT call his own play. At the end of lopsided games, it is appropriate for one team who is advancing to the play offs to give some experience to players who have never had it, in this case, he had literally never stepped on the game field before. If Huron has issue with this, my only suggestion is to get a better football team.
mby05
Tue, Nov 13, 2012 : 6:18 p.m.
Not sure what you mean by "typical Pioneer parent" as I've only been one for a couple of months. I do know that making sweeping statements about large groups of people never leads to intelligent discussions, as was the case here. It's sort of like leading off with "you folks, or those people", nothing productive will follow.
Basic Bob
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 2:38 p.m.
Winning is everything, especially if your kid gets to play.
boo
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 10:13 p.m.
typical pioneer parent. If your son had been hit hard by a blitzing huron linebacker and been seriously hurt on the same play, you'd be saying Gildersleeve called the blitz on purpose to hurt your son. And you'd be screaming (and likely suing) claiming he should never be calling blitzes that late in the game when it was clear the game was over. Go ahead and spin it to serve your point of you. But you are typical of the win at all cost mentality at pioneer. you deserve the coaches you have. It's true that changes needed to be made at huron, but not because of this brawl that classless pioneer coaches caused.
jmac
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 8:29 p.m.
Hope the football program improves after this. It is demoralizing to lose every week - for players, schoolmates and coaches.
strideontime
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 11:43 p.m.
Although Huron is a large high school, it is a high school of scholars and professor's kids. Huron's football players would probably knock the socks off other team's ACT and SAT scores. But sports are great for the students to learn other lessons in life such as physical skills, and working for a common goal with teammates. Having said that, when the district opened the third high school, it spread the sporting talent thin. And probably football was the sport that was hit the hardest @ Huron. So it is what it is. Its great to get a coach into Huron that is willing to teach the boys the fundamentals of football. So this leaves us with the best case scenario we could expect, If they're learning (football), they're winning. In order for the Huron High School football team to establish a winning season, a developmental football program would have to be established to capture and maintain the interest of middle schoolers. Teams like St. Johns turn out large blocking offensive line men because they have such a program. Huron has many other sports and extra-curricular activities that attract players away from the time commitment of football. And so when you ask for a winning season, you are asking for a culture change, not just a coaching change.
Momma G
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 8:24 p.m.
I'm happy to hear this. I don't think the truth actually came out - did the district talk to all the Pioneer players? Paul Test is not that type of person and would never have told his player to change that play. How hungry was that player to be in the "spotlight?" Gildersleeve has put a black eye on Paul Test when there wasn't even a reason to do so. Hope he is a better PE teacher than a coach. I know Paul Test was before he retired. Hope Paul leads next years Pioneer team to the finals again.
leonard
Wed, Nov 14, 2012 : 8:30 p.m.
In my dealings with coach test since 2009 the scores were easily 54-0 etc...In fact it got boring. The games were usually over by the second quarter and still had starters in the game at the end of the fourth quarter.Test is the consummate liar and has honed these skills over the years.
Parent Speaks
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 10:27 p.m.
Momma G..... You really need to get your facts straight before talking about things that you obviously have ZERO knowledge on. First of all, Coach Test did call that play. His own coaches told the Huron coaches that not only did he call that play, his comment after several of his coaches told him not to call the play was: "Were sending them a message". What type of coach does this to high school kids?!?!? Second, Coach test has repeatedly lied to the media when it comes to what happened that night. He told several media sources that Coach Gildersleeve was "pushing him". But when he had to talk to the Ann Arbor Police Department, his statement was that Coach Gildersleeve never touched him. Hmmmm.......funny how he tells the truth to the police when he knows he can't lie, but chooses to make Coach Gildersleeve look bad in the media by bold face lying about what really happened. I think it is Coach Test who put a black eye on Coach Gildersleeve!! The ONLY reason Coach Gildersleeve has not told his side of the story is because he is following the Ann Arbor Public Schools directive to not talk about this until after the investigation is over. Unlike Coach Test, who thinks those say rules don't apply to him. I am speaking about this because I know these facts to be 100% true. I just wish other would know the facts before slandering another person on a public forum.
Sumeyye
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 8:17 p.m.
Nice article! You can read more about Coach Sleeve from Huron's newspaper! http://www.emerynews.org/?p=142
kathy coles
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 9:58 p.m.
That was a great article and once again the football program for this year has an average GPA of 3.7. I am very proud of these young men and their coaches that put academics before the W on the field. It shows that these young men also know that academics is more important and the coaches were there to help them every step of the way - from year round study table, making phone calls to parents, bringing in tutors and talking to teachers to see how they could help. I have the utmost respect for the coaches and the entire football program, and am very sad to see coach Sleeve step down. Family does come first with him and he conveyed that to his players and their families also, if you took the time to get to know him
Albert Howard
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 7:14 p.m.
We were there when Gildersleeve made the announcement at last nights awards ceremony. He used the phrase 'stepping down'. I tweeted it moments later.
Rod Johnson
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 9:50 p.m.
Cool story bro.
Bertha Venation
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 7:07 p.m.
HA! Ya... Sports will keep the kids off the streets and out of trouble..... yyyyaaaaaa.
redwingshero
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 6:04 p.m.
Maybe when schools push teachers to be as passionate/enthusiastic in educating their pupils as they do in sports, this wouldn't occur. *Not saying all teachers aren't passionate about what they do, but come on, it's stuff like this that speaks volumes to where society is and where it's priorities are.
redwingshero
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 9:41 p.m.
@semper fi- no where in my statement did I say i am blaming the teachers. I simply said that schools, in large districts especially (ie-administation, etc.) put a lot, if not too much emphasis/passion/energy on sports success rather than academic. I am well aware of the problem with parents not doing their jobs to properly raise their child. Heck, me even suggesting that should get me flamed for how liberal people in the area are. If parents are going to do their job as a role model, and these kids' coaches aren't, then who's left?
SemperFi
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 7:57 p.m.
So, you're blaming teachers for "where our society is and where it's priorities are"? How about getting parents to make sure that their kids eat properly, get a good night's sleep, and send them to school with a proper attitude about respect and a desire to learn?
a2roots
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 6:45 p.m.
@rwh...."Push Teachers"...all you know is about this guys meltdown on the field. Was he in the wrong? No doubt, but do not go and slam teachers because of this incident. Might want to slam the poor excuse for parents/guardians that a lot of kids have. Spend some time in our high schools and it only takes a short time to realize most problems emanate from home.
EyeHeartA2
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 5:53 p.m.
Well, as they say, you can't fire all the players. Hopefully, the next guy can figure out what needs to be done there. The current situation is totally unacceptable.
redwingshero
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 6:09 p.m.
It's not that you can't. You could.
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 5:49 p.m.
0-9..... 9-27, takes a toll.
a2citizen
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 1:11 a.m.
So does 15-22.
a2roots
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 5:46 p.m.
Not a bad thing for Huron. Problem is hiring a coach that can connect with the students and families and deal with keeping kids eligible to play. Whoever is selected will have his hands full.
Bogie
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 4:01 a.m.
Ya, he's from Monroe county. A place where the parents and students have to connect with the coach (not the other way around).....because he's the coach!
EyeHeartA2
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 5:54 p.m.
Yep. I think Cory had no idea what he signed himself up for when he took that job.
dk
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 5:40 p.m.
DonBee, Paul Test was suspended for two games total, not one. Huron only had one more game, so it's kind of a moot point with their coach.
PineyWoodsGuy
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 5:37 p.m.
As long as there are Tree Town football dads and football moms, teenboys will play football; that is, until the teenboys rebel and say "We want to play soccer."
a2citizen
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 1:10 a.m.
As long as there is paint to watch dry, and grass to watch grow, teenboys won't be too involved in soccer.
Brad
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 9:28 p.m.
One thing about soccer - that will certainly take any "running up the score" off the table.
Jojo B
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 6:14 p.m.
And crazy students, parents, and coaches can get just as worked up about soccer. In any sport, one must restrain themselves from acting blindly and dangerously in anger or frustration.
DonBee
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 5:27 p.m.
Mr Cunningham - Both coaches were given two 1 game suspensions - 1 by AAPS and 1 by the MHSAA. They were served concurrently - so in effect they missed 1 game, and no practices.
a2citizen
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 1:09 a.m.
Just don't let it happen again.
DonBee
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 8:48 p.m.
Yes, I can be wrong, it happens. I have the original email from AAPS that I referred to when I wrote my comment. I never got a follow up from AAPS correcting it. My apologies for my mistake.
arborarmy
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 8:18 p.m.
Donbee wrong about something regarding the AAPS? Who could have imagined that???
Kyle Mattson
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 7:19 p.m.
To confirm, A2roots and AAite are correct. Both coaches were suspended two games. The confusion regarding the suspension period was a result of concurrently being incorrectly used in the AAPS press release. Here is the original story, hopefully it helps clarify. http://bit.ly/aadc-ffs1
AAite
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 7:05 p.m.
It was actually consecutive 1+1
a2roots
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 5:43 p.m.
@Don...Gildersleeve missed one game which was Huron's last game. Test missed 2, the last game and first playoff game.