Poor Leadership excused for Wins

The 2012 version of the South Pasadena High School football team has shown to be much more entertaining than those teams that have preceded them. 
With a 3-1 record and averaging 35 points a game, the Tigers have mixed
a strong running game with timely passes and a bend but don’t break defense to
raise the hopes of the loyal fans that have not seen the Tigers make the
playoffs for several seasons.  All looks promising for this year’s team, but looks can be deceiving.

Although many complaints have been made to the South Pasadena administration about Coach Martin Konrad and members of his staff for misconduct and insubordination, Principal Anderson and Athletic Directors Zalin and Punaro have decided to turn a blind eye to the issues.  A winning record and excitement
amongst the community has allowed Principal Anderson and the Athletic directors
to ignore the many issues that have been reported by members of the former
coaching staff and members of the community. After all, what else would you expect from the people who ran former coach Ed Smith out after over 20 years of service. Anderson and Punaro hired Coach Konrad. If they fire him now, they have to admit that they made a mistake.  Now the common response will be that the issues have been dealt with in house or that the facts are not as reported.  The fact is that there is no denying that Coach Konrad and members of the football staff continue to ignore the rules of the school and cif. 

Coach Konrad was quick to report an ineligible athlete who transferred to San Gabriel High School from SPHS in week 1 so that the athlete would not be able to play against the Tigers.  The same coach who tried to block another student from transferring away from his program. Unfortunately Konrad was not so quick to
report his own quarterback who violated CIF rules by transferring to SPHS under
the guidance and undue influence of his club coach.  The same coach who is now on the South Pasadena staff.  This is a CIF violation.  The family of the same young man does not live in the SPHS district, they do not have a permit to attend SPHS and the administration keeps ignoring the issue. Coach Konrad is not worried because the person the high school uses to verify these issues is a member of the football staff.

Coach Konrad has disregarded school policies and the direction of the athletic director by allowing athletes, who were not cleared to participate for a variety of
reasons, take part in practices.  Coach waited for the athletic director to leave the facility then instructed the athletes onto the field to take part in drills.  Konrad allowed an assistant coach to work with athletes before the district cleared the coach to work with the players.  Even after Athletic Director Punaro informed Konrad on more than one occasion, the coach would come to the field shortly after Punaro would leave and take part in practice.  The same has been holding Sunday workouts with members of the SPHS football program since the season started.  Another CIF Violation.  These violations were witnessed by me, the members of the football staff and other coaches from the high school.

During the past two seasons as football coach, Konrad has been verbally abusive to players.  In one incident this season Coach grabbed an athlete and cursed him in front of his teammates.  Now some will say that this is how things
happen on the football field, but we cannot accept this type of behavior in any
sport.  In another incident last season, Coach Konrad yelled and cursed senior Farnsworth.  The young man’s father had just passed away and yet Coach had no compassion for a grieving student.  He crossed the line with his outburst.

Over the past two seasons Konrad has hosted meals for the coaching staff, paying for food and alcohol with cash monies raised during team fundraisers.  On one occasion Coach hosted a pizza and bear party at Round Table where the proceeds of a car wash were counted.  The party later spilled over to the Barkley
where coach again picked up the tab.  Coach Konrad has held staff meetings and film sessions on campus where alcohol was served.  Why is this allowed?

These incidents are just the tip of the iceberg.  With the help of others I will continue to expose the violations of the program and the inappropriate behavior of the coaches to the SPHS administration.  With the help of other parents and friends throughout the community, I will continue to make sure that our kids are being led by honorable people both in the classroom and in the athletic venues.

Sam Huang

South Pasadena Resident