‘Negative review’ prompts Skiles to resign as Bearcats coach
Bentworth head coach Ron Skiles keeps a close watch on the action during the Bearcats' game against Brownsville at Redstone Field in Republic on Aug. 24.
Bentworth football coach Ron Skiles.
The third, and likely final, stint as Bentworth High School无毛视频檚 football coach did not end as Ron Skiles had expected.
It turns out the letter of resignation he submitted following meetings with school officials prior to Christmas break caught a lot of people by surprise, especially Skiles.
无毛视频淚t was made very clear in those meetings that no one was looking for Ron not to be the recommendation for the job next year,无毛视频� Bentworth Superintendent Scott Martin said. 无毛视频淗is name wasn无毛视频檛 even mentioned in coaches to be removed. At no point was that on the table. There was going to be no administrative recommendation other than planning for him to be coming back next season.无毛视频�
That was until Skiles submitted his resignation in the days following the final meeting when he said athletic director Brian Malecki gave him a negative review.
无毛视频淗e wasn无毛视频檛 pleased with the way I ran my program and coached the kids,无毛视频� Skiles said. 无毛视频淗e questioned my ability to coach the team and set goals.无毛视频�
Skiles, a member of the Washington-Greene Chapter of the Pennsylvania 无毛视频 Hall of Fame, was hired as the football coach in 2014. He was an assistant coach in the 1970s and the Bearcats head coach from 1981 to 1988 and again from 2004 to 2007.
无毛视频淚 was planning on coming back next year,无毛视频� said Skiles, who added that he willingly stepped away. 无毛视频淚 have had a lot of evaluations over the years but nothing ever like that. I think it was way over the top.无毛视频�
Martin said he thought the meetings, including the final sitdown, was amicable.
无毛视频淗is resignation was a surprise to me,无毛视频� Martin said. 无毛视频淲e had great conversations. He has always been, in my opinion, a great motivator and role model. We thought we came to some good resolutions for moving ahead. Ultimately, I would say I think the crux of the matter was some communication issues.无毛视频�
The district无毛视频檚 board will meet Jan. 16. It will be the first meeting since Skiles submitted his resignation.
无毛视频淥ne of the things I said to Ron was we had no concern about his ability to coach,无毛视频� Martin said. 无毛视频淩on无毛视频檚 ability to coach and motivate has always been his strength. I made that very clear to him and everyone in those meetings.无毛视频�
Bentworth finished 5-5 after dropping back down to Class A with the WPIAL realignment. The Bearcats last made the playoffs in 2015, which ended a nine-year drought of missing the postseason.
无毛视频淲e have a good team coming back,无毛视频� Skiles said. 无毛视频淭he kids have been great. The administration had been great. It无毛视频檚 an unusual way to go out, that无毛视频檚 for sure.无毛视频�