‘After careful consideration, the district has determined that the boys basketball program is at a point where it needs to move in a new direction.?
That single, vague statement issued as part of a two-paragraph press release March 26 was the only explanation the Oxford High School Athletic Department would give as the reason for terminating the career of Steve Laidlaw, coach of the varsity boys basketball team since October 2002.
‘I think at the end of the day, the administrators are saying, ‘Steve, you did your best, but your best wasn’t quite good enough,?? said Laidlaw, who spent 18 years coaching various sports at OHS since graduating from there in 1981. ‘All I know is I’m not going to be coaching next year.?
When asked for something more specific, more concrete as to why Laidlaw’s contract would not be renewed for the 2009-10 season, OHS Principal Mike Schweig, who served as the spokesman for this situation, didn’t sound much different than the press release.
‘Coach Laidlaw has taken (the basketball program) from where he started to a good level, but after consideration, we’re looking at moving in a new direction with it,? he said. ‘We’re looking at his total body of work as far as how the program has progressed and it doesn’t have to do with any single issue.?
During his seven seasons as head coach, the team’s record was 43-59 overall.
Schweig noted that Laidlaw’s ‘dedication, commitment, passion for the game and competitiveness has been tremendous.?
It’s ironic Laidlaw was fired following the 2008-09 season, which saw the Cats win their first district playoff game in 10 years. Overall, the team went 9-13 this year (four more wins than last season). Laidlaw noted the team was ‘very competitive? in six of the games it lost and ‘could have easily won 15 games? if things just gone a little differently.
Ultimately, it was Athletic Director Pat Ball’s recommendation to fire Laidlaw, a lifelong Oxford resident.
‘We don’t just look at wins and losses here,? Ball said. ‘Outside of that, I can’t really express what went on in his evaluation at this time.?
Ball’s recommendation was approved by Schweig, appealed by Laidlaw, reviewed by Superintendent Dr. William Skilling, but ultimately the decision was allowed to stand.
‘New direction ? that was the thing,? Laidlaw said. ‘They applauded my intergrity, my impact on the kids, my role modeling, my worth ethic. They acknowledged there wasn’t much of a program when I got in and now I’m turning over a good program.?
But in the end, ‘the administration wants to go in a new direction. I went through the (appeal) process and I still lost.?
From what he knows about Laidlaw’s evaluation by the administration, fellow coach Walt Studinger said it ‘lacked specifics? and ‘the standards (used) were selective.?
‘The review’s incredibly offensive on a common sense level and incredibly inept on an administrative level,? said Studinger, who taught in the district for 31 years and was, until Laidlaw’s dismissal, the junior varsity boys basketball coach. ‘I think Steve and our community deserves better than that.?
Studinger noted for anyone to say the basketball ball program hasn’t been improving is ‘preposterous on any kind of level.?
‘Those kids were 3-45 when they were in middle school. Those kids were 9-13 (this season). That is a 655 percent improvement.?
‘To suggest that they’re not improving is nonsensical,? Studinger said.
Studinger indicated it’s his opinion that Laidlaw’s refusal to fire him last year at the administration’s request contributed to the present situation. ‘That was certainly the beginning of the end for him,? he said.
Laidlaw confirmed he was asked to terminate Studinger, but couldn’t do it.
‘I could not justify terminating a man who has been in this community for 34 years, a well-known, respected teacher of basketball by girls and boys,? he said. ‘There is no right way to do the wrong thing.?
Studinger’s been teaching basketball in Oxford since 1975 and was Laidlaw’s varsity basketball coach back in the late 1970s/early 1980s.
‘If that played a role in the decision to terminate me, I can live with that,? Laidlaw said. ‘I would like to think that played zero part in the decision. I would like to think that.?
Obviously, Laidlaw is not pleased with the district’s decision to dismiss him, but he doesn’t wish to exit on a sour note.
‘This has been a great experience and I don’t want to walk away with any bitterness or anger,? he said. ‘When I look back at my 6? years, I don’t look at the wins and losses, I look at the relationships I’ve made with some great kids and they’re going to be lifelong friendships.?
‘I can honestly say that when a kid came into my program that I put their best interests first. I do think a lot of kids became better people, students and basketball players in my program.?
Reflecting on his career, Laidlaw’s greatest triumphs and most bitter defeats didn’t occur on the basketball court.
For Laidlaw, the biggest win of his career was helping former player Alan Willar, a 2006 OHS graduate, achieve his dream of attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
When Laidlaw first met Willar, the then-sophomore was reading at a sixth-grade level and spelling below a fifth-grade level due to a severe learning disability.
Before practice, Laidlaw would spend 30 minutes or so helping Willar with his spelling, but he soon realized the boy needed more help than he could give. After consulting with Studinger, Willar was introduced to Marsha Chapman, who, in Laidlaw’s opinion, is ‘the best teacher in the high school.?
Willar got the help he needed and ultimately became a Wolverine. ‘It’s an incredible story and I played a small part in it,? Laidlaw said.
Laidlaw’s proud of ‘all the kids that I saw struggle from a maturity standpoint or academically? who are ‘graduating from Big Ten schools, MAC schools or Oakland University.?
‘At the end of the day, that’s what coaching’s about.?
On the flip side, it was the sudden death of former player and 2005 grad David Wendt in February 2007 that became Laidlaw’s most upsetting loss as a coach. ‘That was my greatest devastation,? he said.
Laidlaw believes his coach-player relationship has been a two-way street. ‘I think I have impacted a lot of kids lives and they in return have impacted my life,? he said.
Over the last two years, as Laidlaw lost both of his parents, it was coaching his team that played a ‘huge part in the mourning process? and served as a form of therapy for him.
‘I don’t know how I would have gotten through the last two years without being a basketball coach in Oxford,? he said.
Looking back over his coaching career, Laidlaw has many people to thank for helping make his program a success ? his players, their parents, his coaching staff, specifically Studinger, and the local businesses, particularly Flagstar Bank, who made numerous contributions.
‘I’m thankful that Oxford Schools gave me the opportunity,? he said. ‘I was lucky to run a basketball program at my dream school, in my dream community. That’s exactly what Oxford is to me.?
Looking ahead, Laidlaw believes Oxford basketball is on the cusp of greatness.
‘I think the next several years there’s going to be really good basketball in Oxford and I’m disappointed that I’m not going to be able to bear the fruits of my labor,? he said.
The youth basketball camps for second through eighth-graders, which Laidlaw built from the ground up, have produced the next generation of skilled and passionate hoopsters.
‘The next coach is going to reap the benefits,? he said. ‘I’m looking forward to watching them. I told the kids the other day when I met with them . . . the next time you see me, I’ll be your Number One fan.?