Salinas (CA) High School Head Football Coach Steps Down After Probation

Salinas High School Head Football Coach Mark Ironside did the right thing by resigning earlier this week.

Ironside's resignation comes on the heels of Salinas' entire athletic program being placed on probation by Central Coast Section officials for numerous infractions. The football program has been placed on two year probation and the other sports one year.

What surprises is me, is Ironside wasn't asked to step-down.

Salinas principal John Macias is quoted in The California as saying, "it was his call." Ironside compounds the problem be not saying if his decision to step down was based on the CCS ruling.

"I just felt it was in the best overall interest of the Salinas High School athletic program,'' said Ironside in The Californian article. Ironside will remain on staff as a health and physical education teacher.

What is the Salinas administration by not demanding Ironside resign and apologize? It's my opinion that wins and losses mean more than educating the students.

Just look at what happened during the 2005 season, and decide whether you think Ironside should have been given the choice to stay.

In November a Salinas football player was caught with a fraudulent address, forcing the Cowboys to forfeit five wins and a tie.

In late November, seven varsity football players received lifetime bans from high school sports for appearing in an unsanctioned television commercial.

Bottom line here, Ironside was as responsible as anyone for the Salinas program becoming the SMU of high school sports in California. While I feel bad for the good kids in the program, here's hoping that the CSS decision wakes-up other schools around the country that try to play outside the rules.

To read the full story in The California, please click on our headline.