Oxford High School Head Varsity Basketball Coach Stephan Henning handed in his letter of resignation Dec. 2 for the 2015-16 season.
According to Oxford Superintendent Tim Throne, Henning made an ‘error in judgment in not following numerous district directives that impact the safety of our students,? which led to him being asked to step down from the district.
‘Coach Henning was also told that if he chose not to resign, the district would not be extending a head coaching contract for 2015-16,? Throne added. ‘I would like to note this action did not affect his teaching position. Mr. Henning is currently a teacher at Oxford Middle School and the district is pleased and confident in having him continue in his role as a teacher.?
According to Henning, the reason for his resignation revolves around a former assistant coach he had hired for the 2013-14 season when he took over as head coach.
‘I don’t know the timeline, but around early November of my second season, I was told that there were some serious allegations about (this assistant coach) and that I had to relieve him of his duty immediately,? he said.
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Nancy Latowski said it was toward the end of the 2013-14 season, around March, that it was discovered that this individual had been involved with the program, but a record check had not been performed.
‘Once completed, Coach Henning had been directed to not allow him on the premises,? she said. ‘It was the district’s decision that this individual would not be allowed to be with the students.?
Latowski could not divulge what those reasons were due to regulations from the Michigan State Police criminal records division.
‘There are very strict guidelines in terms of sharing information and we can’t do that. We can only share records with certain entities like another school district that wants to hire an individual. We cannot share specifics on any kind of criminal records check,? she told this reporter. ‘The district has a right to look at criminal records and make those decisions whether we want an individual to be hired or involved with our students. Bottom-line, that is what we have done.?
The Oxford Leader is looking into this former assistant coach’s background.
According to Henning, there didn’t seem to be a problem until his former assistant coach showed up this season at the team’s first practice. He said he did not invite the former coach, but that he showed up with a former player, who wanted to watch practice and check out this year’s team.
‘Deep down did I know he wasn’t supposed to be there? I knew it. I didn’t think he was a harm or danger, but I knew deep down he shouldn’t have been there or I should have gotten it cleared or checked as soon as he got there,? Henning explained. ‘It was the end of practice. He hung out about 45 minutes. All of the players know him and the varsity players loved him.?
He noted that his former assistant showed up again uninvited the next night during the team lock-in event. Despite being given direct orders by the former Athletic Director Mike Watson and current Oxford High School Principal Todd Dunckley that this individual was not to be on the premises, Henning did not ask his former coach to leave.
‘I didn’t initially or intentionally disobey that order. When (that former coach) came up to my practice Thursday and Friday, he was not invited,? he said. ‘I didn’t invite him to come. He came with (a former player). I didn’t knowingly go against a direct order, but when he was there, I did not kick him out.?
So, why didn’t he kick him out? Henning said it was near the end of practice and his players were excited to see him.
‘I knew (he wasn’t supposed to be there) I’m not trying to deny it. I just finished up at tryouts. I just finished up passing out jerseys and I was trying to get the pizza ordered (for the lock-in),? he added. ?(There were) a lot of different factors going on that I didn’t want to make it a big deal by kicking him out immediately or kicking him off the premises.?
The Tuesday following the lock-in (Nov. 22) Henning said he was called in Athletic Director Cole Andrew’s office.
‘Once I walked in, he had a security film picture of (the former coach and former player),? he said. ‘Once I saw the picture on his desk, I’m like ‘Oh, boy.? I thought something was up, but I didn’t think it was my job.?
Henning described his meeting with Andrews as a ‘heated argument? and included ‘verbal assault on both ends.?
‘I think he (Andrews) went into the meeting thinking I knew the allegations against (the former assistant coach),? explained Henning. ‘I knew there were some allegations or charges, but I had no clue as to what they were.?
He said that Andrews informed him that he may be ‘relieved? of his job, but to go through scrimmages during Thanksgiving break and they would reconvene after and talk. Upon returning after Thanksgiving break, Henning said he was told to resign by Andrews.
‘I don’t even want to get into how to he told me to resign. I just want to speak to it and say I think he was very disrespectful in how he told me to resign ? just his words and what he said,? Henning added. ‘I think he could have just told me, ‘This is it. This is what it is,? but he said a few other things that were upsetting to me.?
Throne told this reporter that it’s ‘standard practice for the district to share the decision of the background check, not the reasons why a person is rejected.?
‘In the end, whether Coach Henning was told the reasons is irrelevant,? Throne said. ‘Additionally, the individual in question continues to be prohibited from the district due to a multitude of concerns.?
Henning noted the paperwork regarding the former assistant coach’s fingerprints wasn’t filed correctly, which is where he believes the district ‘dropped the ball.?
‘I don’t know who,? he said. ‘But it wasn’t me because that’s not my responsibility.?
However, Latowski pointed out it does fall in Henning’s court.
‘Coach Henning’s 2014 -15 contract contained the bolded statement: ‘Team and program head coaches shall be responsible for proper registration and certification of all non-staff and volunteer coaches, including background clearance, fingerprints, volunteer contracts and third-party hiring compliance PRIOR to having contact with students.?
Latowski noted the assistant coach had been given a volunteer packet on two different occasions, but did not turn in the packet to complete the clearance checks.
‘On March 7, 2014, Mr. Watson and Mr. Dunckley were able tot contact this individual by phone and demand that the packet be completed and returned,? she said. ‘To our knowledge, the packet was never completed and returned.?
Moving forward
While he is struggling through the process which led to his resignation, Henning wishes it would have been handled differently.
‘Just how it went down and how I was talked to at times, I would never, and I mean this with all due respect, and I even told Superintendent Throne this, if I am resigning, I will never volunteer, I will never help, and I’ll never participate in an Oxford Athletic event the rest of my life,? he said.
However, he is staying on as a teacher in the district.
‘I’m not going to lie. At first I wanted to quit ASAP and I wanted to be done with Oxford. I took a couple days off and when I came back and saw the love from my kids that have no clue I’m the varsity coach and just know me as ‘Mr. Henning? and just were glad to have me back as their eighth-grade history teacher or sixth-grade geography teacher,? he said. ‘I realize these kids don’t deserve me being gone, or not being their teacher and having that impact in their lives. I approach teaching just the same way I approach coaching (with passion).?
‘I think that’s why I got such support from people because they know I’m a great teacher as well,? said Henning, referring to the overflowing crowd of parents, players and coaches at the Dec. 2 school board meeting who spoke on his behalf.
‘The support I got from some parents and the community was amazing. Maybe I needed to hear the testimonials of those kids and those parents to make me feel like what I was doing as the coach was the right decision. I felt it was,? he continued. ‘I just want to tell the Oxford community, parents, players, anyone that believed in me, thank you and I’m going to continue to be the high-character guy they believed in originally.?
Although he knows his players are struggling with his exit as coach, he is urging them to do their best because regardless, he wants to see them succeed.
‘I called each and every player (on the phone) and I told them to invest in each other and invest in whoever is their coach . . . I told them that because I didn’t want any rumors going around saying that I was trying to sabotage the program,? he said. ‘I want these kids to be successful. I want every player to go to college, so I would never tell a player to transfer. I just want them to be successful (here in Oxford).?
As far as ever coaching again in Oxford, Henning said, ‘Like I told Throne, the classroom I love it, but the basketball I crave it,? he said. ‘When I am in that element, I don’t want to feel like I am walking on eggshells or I am being looked after or I’m around someone who doesn’t fully believe in me or want me around . . . Would I want (the job)? Yes. Would I take it? It depends on my relationship with my boss (Andrews), ultimately.?
Throne said he understands why people are upset and it’s not an easy spot to be in from his perspective, either.
‘I want the best for Coach Henning. I have known him since he started working in Oxford and that is why this has been so difficult,? he said. ‘However, our community also has to understand that at the end of the day, independent of the relationship I have with someone, everyone is held to the highest standard when directives have been given that impact the welfare and safety of our students.?
During Henning’s role as head coach his contributions to the program and the students have been numerous.
Henning had back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 22 years. He led the team to a league title in 2013-14, which was the first league title in 33 years. Along with the title, he was only one win shy of setting the record for the most wins in a single season. The team finished 16-4.
For the 2015-16 boys basketball season, David Brown will serve as Interim Head Coach, with some other minor adjustments in assistant and volunteer staff. Brown brings years of experience to the role, having served in the district as a freshman basketball, freshman baseball and assistant varsity football coach. He also has 15 years of teaching experience in Oxford.