Brandon Twp.’School officials say they will support a long time coach after allegations of verbal abuse toward players have been made.
Several parents claim that Brandon High School Softball Coach Don Peters verbally and emotionally abused high school softball players during the course of several seasons.
Peters, a coach of 17 years, was selected to the Michigan Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in February, 2000.
Letters describing incidents of tyrannical behavior, including kicking water bottles, incidental spitting in players? faces and derogatory comments have been submitted to the school board during meetings since October 2003.
‘Absolutely zero of these allegations are true,? said Peters. ‘If any of these allegations were true why would these players wait so long to come forward? It just doesn’t add up.?
At the end and start of each season, Peters conducts an entrance and exit interview with the players to discuss any issues on the team. And, says Peters, at the end of the 2003 season in June the players were looking forward to next year.
‘No one said anything (following last season). Never in my wildest dreams would I think that they would do this. I strive for positive motivation, for players to feel good about themselves. I’m an intense coach, but keep the kids? best interest at heart. I expect the players to perform their best.?
Peters says that game playing time for some of the girls on the team may have caused the parents to react in such a manner.
‘If I were going to get a coach fired, this would be the logical way to do it. Because no one will fire a coach for not playing their daughter,? added Peters.
However, several parents and former players contend that playing time is not the issue, alleging rather Peters? coaching style and his inappropriate actions.
The group of parents formed the Parents Against Abuse in Coaching and School Administration, and are now asking school officials to dismiss Peters due to his actions.
‘I could have sat back and said nothing, my daughter has always played, but it’s not right what Peters has done,? said Ben Smith, a coach with Peters for five years, who claims there were an ‘uncountable number of incidents,? that he would classify as abuse.
‘A number of parents came to me rather than Don,? added Smith. ‘The kids get yelled and screamed at until they cry. ‘Go ahead cry,? he’d say, teasing them just to belittle them.?
Despite the allegations, school officials have supported Peters.
‘Mr. Peters is more than just a ‘coach,? said Beth Nuccio, Brandon School Board president. ‘He has served as teacher, counselor, mentor, and at times a parent to over 200 student athletes. Coach Peters is a man of integrity, who truly cares about our kids.?
Peters has also helped coach 25 girls to All State players, four teams to Academic All State Honors and more than 60 of his softball players achieved the individual accomplishment of Scholar Athlete. He also currently works as an instructor at the Oakland School Technical Campus in addition to serving as Brandon Girls softball coach.
‘He’s a very intense, emotional coach, he’s not the warm fuzzy type of guy,? added Nuccio. ‘But, I’ve never seen him out of control.?
While some parents claim Peters was abusive in his coaching methods, some players say it’s just not true.
Cathie Hastings, a 2000 Brandon High School graduate, who played for Peters during her sophomore and junior years remains supportive of the veteran coach.
‘He’s not abusive,? said Hastings, now a senior at Saginaw State University.
‘For practices he does know how to coach, and his practices are productive. He’ll yell at you, but he will not say what’s wrong with you personally. I have a lot of respect for him and I learned a lot from him.?
For eight years, Cathy Seffens? two daughters Lauren and Brooke, both Brandon High School Graduates and All-State Softball players where coached by Peters. News of the allegations shocked the Brandon mom.
‘I haven’t always agreed with everything Don’s done, but, he’s been fair,? said Seffens. He spoke with the whole team and really worked at communicating.?
‘He had a lot of good players on the team, and would put the best nine in the game.?