On February 11 of this year, I wrote a letter to the powers that be in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, detailing, with facts and receipts, exactly how Sarah Williams had her civil and Title IX rights taken away from her during last year’s hiring process for the girls junior varsity coaching position. I didn’t speak up for Sarah because she’s my former player, I spoke up because it was the right thing to do. I wouldn’t have sent that letter if I didn’t believe in what I was saying. Two years ago I wrote a letter in support of Una Miller and Liz Walsh, I’ve never met either woman and probably never will. It was addressed to Colin Schmitt and appeared in the Mid Hudson Times.

Sarah applied again this year and once again the hiring process was immoral and possibly illegal. The job was somehow reposted a second time, after the only two candidates were interviewed, but no one was given an answer as to why. Last night the board of ed voted 7-1 to not do the right thing and Sarah was denied once again. The person they hired knows a lot about basketball, I tried to hire him, this isn’t about who is a better coach. It’s about doing what’s right. It’s about a male head coach, a male athletic director and a male human resources director running the whole process and a female candidate being denied for the second year in a row. It’s about a female superintendent not standing up for women. It’s about two female board members, who both have daughters, voting to go along with it. Because it was easier than doing the right thing. Doing the right thing, standing alone while you’re doing it, isn’t always easy. I live it every single day of my life. But it’s also about the 12,000 or so kids who go to school in Newburgh. Math isn’t my strength but, if half of those students are girls, then that’s 6,000 or so girls who go to school here every day. This is about them too. What message does this send them?

Far too many adults get stuck in the sparseness of their own world. Their vision focuses only on what they can see. They just want to go from moment to moment with as little pain as possible. It’s human nature. Ninety-nine percent of the world can’t see beyond their own scope and beyond their own lives. To dig in on something that has no direct meaning in their lives, especially if digging in is going to cause some kind of pain or scorn, is more than what most people are willing to do. But we are spiritual beings, everything we do affects far more than we are willing to understand. That understanding is a gift that I’ve been given. That vision is something that God has blessed me with, even though I’ve suffered immensely since receiving it. I can’t turn away from it. I’m living it right now, at this moment.

No army of supporters showed up last night. Harold Rayford did. No matter how he feels about me, I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. If I was running for anything in Newburgh, he’s the first call I’m making.

As I stated, the board voted 7-1 to not hire Sarah. Once again, only one person stood on principle. Darren Stridiron is the only board member who refused to be swayed, who stood up for what was right, even though, as is often the case, he was standing alone. Six thousand girls needed someone to stand up for them, only Stridiron had the courage to do so. Because they all knew exactly what was going on. It’s really easy to go along with the mob, it’s much more difficult to stand up to the mob. But “it wasn’t passing, so what does it matter?” is not a valid excuse. Especially if you are a woman and you know how women have been treated and still continue to be treated, far too often in this city. We have board members who have been slandered by the same people they went along with last night. It’s unconscionable to me.

If you haven’t seen Sarah’s speech from last night, you need to. You’ll know why so many of us were so passionate in supporting her. In the letter I sent to the district back in February, when I first notified them about what transpired last year with the job, I wrote…

“Sarah Williams is one of the kids I never completely reached. There were moments, but we never got there, I did not finish the job with her. She was the most naturally gifted player I’ve ever coached.”

Because our God is a good and faithful God, I truly believe he’s giving us a chance to “get there”. You are a role model for every little girl who goes to this school district. You don’t ever let anyone strip you of your dignity. To put you on the bench. You have arrived Sarah, you made it.