Gallup coaches back at work

By Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — All of the Gallup High school coaches are now back at their teaching jobs.

Officials for the Gallup-McKinley County Public said Wednesday that the last two varsity football coaches put on administrative leave with pay on Dec. 3 – Dan Donisthorpe and Albert Gabaldon – have returned to their teaching jobs at the high school. A third coach – Steve Starkovich – had been allowed to return a few days after he had been placed on administrative leave.

The action by the school district came after about 10 parents of players of this year’s football team had met with Superintendent Esther Macias and other school officials and complained about the way the coaches treated their sons during practice, with allegations that the coaches at times showed disregard for the player’s safety and used ethnic slurs and harassment to motivate them.

Gallup High school Principal Mike Butkovich said Wednesday that he couldn’t say anything about the status of the coaches except that they had returned to teaching. Others have reported that their coaching status for future seasons was still up in the air.

Parents who complained had no immediate response to the decision to allow the coaches to return to their jobs. One parent said that district officials have agreed to meet with them again Friday afternoon.

Changing behavior
Although none of the coaches have agreed to comment on the situation, Donisthorpe, the head varsity coach this past season, issued a statement Wednesday.

“I will also learn from this experience,” he stated, “and understand that I need to be more conscious of my interactions with all players, parents, as well as the media. I also see that during the emotion of the moment, I need to be more sensitive to my player’s feelings.

“I will state that I have a multi-cultural coaching staff and on no occasion have (I) incorporated ‘racial slurs’ into my coaching strategy,” he added. “I will say I know now I need to watch my verbal exchanges and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of my words.”

“As to the accusations of inappropriate interactions with my players outside of football, that is simply not a part of my character and integrity,” he said. “I have never partied or allowed inappropriate illegal activities while under my supervision. When outside my supervision, unfortunately, I cannot monitor or parent my players. I expect them to carry the values we have instilled on the field into their every-day lives.”

In his statement, he also talked about the allegations that he and his coaches jeopardized the safety and welfare of his players by working them too hard.

“As a licensed coach in New Mexico, I have been trained and practice appropriate safety measures and my practices are open and oftentimes are observed by administration, media and player families,” he said. “I want what is best for these student athletes. However, I am not a parent of these students. Therefore it needs to be understood my opinion of talent is unbiased and in the best interest of Bengal football.

“My job and motivation as a coach is to put the best players on the field regardless of how I may or may not feel about them personally,” he said. “I do, however, consider my athlete’s overall character. It is important to my program that my athletes maintain good grades, a team-oriented attitude, leadership ability and integrity.”

Coaching philosophy
This all goes back, he said, to his coaching philosophy, which was developed when he was an All-American tight end at Upper Iowa University and then a graduate assistant football coach at Texas A&M University-Commerce. From there he received a master’s degree in Physical Education and took a position as offensive line coach at Upper Iowa University for three years and then another two years of offensive coordinator.

He’s taught at Gallup High School for the past five years and has had a number of coaching positions in the school system, ranging from assistant football coach to athletic trainer and head baseball coach.

“I am also an active member of the community,” he said. “I have served as a board member and coach for TDFL football and the Boys and Girls Club Little League Baseball. Also, my summers have been spent organizing and facilitating free athletic clinics for Gallup youth.”

He said that although he experienced success at the college level, he was excited at the opportunity to coach in a high school setting.

“I knew it would be a challenge to build a successful program in a high school,” he said. “I loved playing football because it taught me many life lessons and helped to guide me through difficult times in my life.

“I believe football is the greatest sport because it finds your breaking point. It pushes you to your limit and makes you ask tough questions, like for instance: Are you willing to work hard and persevere,” he said.

Passionate
As a coach, he described himself as “passionate” and one that “oftentimes wears my emotions on my sleeve.”
He said he wants to build a successful 5A football program in Gallup.

“I believe that is where some of the misconceptions are coming into play. I want to produce a championship mentality and at this level that means players have to be mentally tough. 5A football in New Mexico is not recreation.

It is competition. That does not equate a ‘win at all cost’ way of thinking. It simply means I believe we live in a society where mediocrity is accepted and I am not willing to accept it in myself or in my players.”

This whole controversy has taken a toll.

“I have been genuinely hurt by these accusations that have been detrimental to myself and my family,” he said. “My dad always said ‘to achieve anything good in life, you have to work hard and make sacrifices.’ Just as I teach my players, I will continue to work hard and persevere for Bengal football.”