The contract for DeShields came just a week after Egli penned a letter on behalf of the school board that cited “significant concerns” about the behavior of DeShields, who was told March 31 he would not be returning after 20 seasons as head coach.

“With the vote you have seen, we hope to put most of this to rest. There should now be no doubt that Coach DeShields will be back leading our girls’ high school basketball team,” the board said in a statement read by board president Mikki Kanagy. “We understand that some in our community may ask ‘why now?’ To that, we can only say we have heard and read what our community has expressed about this. We have thought hard and long about the issues involved and carefully considered the recommendation of our superintendent.”

The school board’s initial announcement that DeShields’ contract would not be renewed coupled with last week’s statement from the West Branch Schools which stated that “certain incidents raised by members of the community concerning Coach DeShields’ behavior have generated significant concerns regarding his judgment, which are not consistent with the district’s priorities” sparked an online firestorm and a river of rumors, as parents, former players and members of the West Branch community lashed out at the board, accusing its members of personal vendettas and grudges.

The board acknowledged that discord.

David Kanagy lashes out at what he called “keyboard warriors” during a West Branch school board meeting in the high school auditorium on Wednesday. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

“Our community has been put through a lot these past few weeks and in fact has been put through too much,” the board said. “Too much misinformation, too many rumors, too many attacks on social media, too much confusion, so much cruelty. Far too much of this has been unnecessary and, to some degree, the wounds have been self-inflicted.”

The board also acknowledged that the “significant concerns” should have been handled internally and not doing so was a misstep on the board’s behalf. The board said those concerns have been discussed directly with DeShields.

“The situation that required a response was handled and should have remained confidential given the privacy issues involved,” the board continued. “Instead, it was allowed to grow out of control and we accept responsibility for our role in that.”

The exact nature of those concerns were not expressed in the letter nor were they explained by the board at Wednesday’s meeting, which was moved to the high school auditorium to accommodate the crowd that showed up in support of DeShields, who has spent two decades at the program’s helm where he amassed a 379-110 record — a 76% winning percentage — with state semifinal appearances in 2015 and 2020 and eight league titles. DeShields never had a losing season as the Warriors’ head coach nor has he ever received a negative review or disciplinary action for his coaching or teaching.

However, the board’s concerns seemingly came to light during the public comment section when David Kanagy, husband of board president Mikki Kanagy, who abstained from Wednesday’s vote to due to a “personal connection to the situation” and who emphatically denied the situation had anything to do with her daughter’s playing time under DeShields, addressed the public.

Former West Branch school board president Earl Trimmer criticizes the board’s recent decisions regarding veteran coach Walt DeShields during the board’s meeting in the high school auditorium on Wednesday. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

David Kanagy, after scolding the crowd for what he called online “comments and induenos” concerning his wife and daughter, hurled a personal insult toward one particular “keyboard warrior” and reiterated that the situation had nothing to do with playing time. Kanagy spoke of an alleged incident involving DeShields’ son that was witnessed by his daughter and later reluctantly reported by her. He also called into question DeShields handling of the situation after it was reported.

Kanagy was the only person during the public comment section to not express support for DeShields. Most were there to speak on the coach’s behalf and chastise the board.

Abbey Bacconi, a parent of four girls including three who currently play for DeShields, wanted to know how this situation snowballed.

“I just want to know how we got here. How did this happen?” she asked the board. “And who’s next? Are you going to do this to a 35-year-old teacher with three kids and a mortgage with no cause? Who is going to want to teach here? Who is going to want to coach here? We and you need to make sure that this does not happen again. The turmoil, the chaos, the defamation. You defamed this man. The statement that was released last week was defamation.”

Former West Branch board president Earl Trimmer agreed, calling the board’s statement last week “an unprecedented classless and impulsive act” and should never be repeated.

Josh Hergenroder expresses support for longtime West Branch girls varsity basketball head coach Walt DeShields during a West Branch school board meeting in the high school auditorium on Wednesday. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

“The West Branch Board of Education and school district should be held accountable for the press release issued to the media defaming Coach Walt DeShields’ character and judgement while publicly humiliating him and his family,” Trimmer said.

Josh Hergenroder questioned “everything that has happened behind the curtain” and what he called a “personal agenda against Coach DeShields.” He demanded “a clear explanation of the rationale behind this decision.”

Hergenroder also alleged that the board’s decision to issue the statement was done so without consultation or input from West Branch Athletic Director Ryan Wolf, who Hergenroder identified as his best friend.

“The athletic director serves as a critical voice and advocate for our student athletes, coaches and broader athletic community,” he said. “That role must be respected and included in all major decisions impacting the department.”

Online rumors have indicated that Wolf intended to step down over the debacle, but Egli said he remains the West Branch athletic director.

Social media posters also speculated that board member Aaron Hawk resigned due to recent events, but that was proven false when the board accepted his resignation letter in which Hawk said he was stepping away from the board to be more available for his family following his wife’s professional promotion.

As for DeShields, he declined to make a comment to the media, instead providing a written statement that urged unity.

“I am not here to say I am perfect, nobody is, or to change someone’s opinion, and with this decision there is no winner or loser,” the statement read. “It’s never good to pick sides until you know the full story. There have been statements made that were hurtful personal attacks and will be difficult to take back, but hopefully with productive discussions and even forgiveness, our school community and team can find a way to learn and grow from this situation, move forward and come back together even stronger.”

DeShields’ thanked the warrior community for “their prayers, love and support” and expressed gratitude to Egli and Wolf “who took the time to thoroughly look into all the information.”

selverd@mojonews.com