posted 24-01-100 13:03 ET (US)
Coaches Terminated for "Excessiveness" Apparent victims of their own success over the past 12 seasons, Coaches Steve O'Rourke and Rick Cotter have been summarily dismissed from their coaching
positions with the FHS Lady BLack Kats, at least in part because in the words of Acting FHS Principal David MacMillan the program was seen as being " too
elite", and because the administration at FHS does not want any of its programs seen in that light.
The sudden move to cut the traditional FHS basketball program down to size has generated a storm of protest among players and former players.
MacMillan explained that, in his judgement, too many demands were made on the players and there was too much expectation that they would be successful. Mr.
MacMillan feels that the student athletes should be more "rounded" and "balanced".
Well the Lady Kats certainly were an elite program, winning 10 of the past 12 N.B. titles, and building a Canadian record 130 straight wins over several seasons
under O'Rourke's term as head coach.
Last year, the team was 40 and 1, gaining national recognition as one of the top 4 high school programs in the country.
So the 1999-2000 Lady Black Kats will be a "rounded and balanced" squad and will be much poorer for the loss of Steve O'Rourke and Rick Cotter as their
coaches.