Portland School District Coaches Terminated In Underage Drinking Incident

Unfortunately, one Maine school district is dealing with an extremely troubling pattern.

On Monday, three assistant coaches from one of the state’s most successful high school baseball programs were dismissed as a result of an ongoing police and school department investigation into allegations of underage drinking by students. The three coaches at Deering High School were removed based on allegations that they were present at a party celebrating the team’s second consecutive state baseball championship.

Assistant coaches Frank Watson, Chris Grant, and Mike D’Andrea, Jr., the son of the team’s head coach, were all terminated based on the school department’s findings regarding the incident. Superintendent Jeanne Whynot-Vickers and Deering Principal Ken Kunin released a statement on Monday noting that they “have lost confidence in the ability of these individuals effectively to supervise and serve as role models for Deering High School students.”

The Incident
The underage drinking party took place on June 21st after Deering had defeated Brewer in the Class A state championship game. The win capped a seemingly perfect 20-0 season and continued an extraordinary run of success for the baseball program. The championship was the team’s seventh title in the past ten years.

The Portland Press Herald indicated that multiple sources placed the location of the party at Watson’s home in Portland. With police doing a separate investigation into the incident, the former coach could also face criminal charges should it be determined he aided or abetted the students.

Deering athletic director Bill LeRoy was quoted by the Press Herald as stating it “wasn’t a small gathering. There were several students, current and graduated, and they made some poor choices.”

School officials indicated pictures placed a number of specific individuals at the party. As is common today with students, several of the photos had been posted on social networking web sites.

Kunin indicated the evidence gathered by school officials had been turned over to police. In addition to the school related discipline of the adults, student-athletes could also be facing harsh penalties, though matters involving juveniles will not be made public by school officials.

Troubling Pattern
While there is no indication at this time that the head coach, the senior D’Andrea, had knowledge of the party, the Deering coach has previously been tied to inappropriate use of alcohol. D’Andrea had to serve a four-game suspension at the beginning of the 2002 high school baseball season as a result of an incident at the conclusion of the 2001 season.

The coach was cited for consuming a beer on the team’s bus after another state title game in June of 2001. D’Andrea was on the team bus while his players were in a restaurant.

In addition to the incident involving D’Andrea the athletic program had a similar situation earlier that same year. After a loss to Bangor in the State Championship basketball game, Deering student-athletes, as well as an assistant coach, were involved in an alcohol-related incident directly after the title game.

Pending Issues
In the State of Maine, possession of alcohol by a minor is a misdemeanor. However, for adults, furnishing alcohol to a minor is a Class D misdemeanor.

Therefore, the terminations could prove to be the least of the problems for the three coaches. The consequences of a Class D misdemeanor include a fine and the potential for up to a year in prison.

Principal Kunin did not disclose to the Press Herald whether the school was investigating other teams or coaches.

Concerned Parents?
Meanwhile, adding to the complexity of the issue is the fact that Watson is currently helping the senior D’Andrea coach the Nova Seafood baseball team competing in the American Legion state tournament. That team is also made up of Deering High School baseball players from the last two title teams.

Given the recent allegations, one has to wonder how parents of the Nova Seafood team feel about Watson’s continued affiliation with the program. Apparently, the issue is a moot one for the players as Nova is the only remaining unbeaten team four days into the state tournament.