An Academy for Technology and the Classics soccer coach has been suspended for the remainder of the season because of a video the school says violated policy.
SANTA FE, N.M. – A girls soccer team in Santa Fe is having to finish out their season without their head coach.
The Academy for Technology and the Classics made the decision to put coach Vilma Ontiveros on administrative leave after the team posted a video to their social media.
“I asked why, and the athletic director’s only reasoning behind the administrative leave was because I had violated the coaching contract in the social media aspect that was demeaning,” Ontiveros told KOB 4.
Ontiveros says her team makes social media videos all season with the intention of creating a positive environment.
The video shows players participating in a trend where they pull positions form a hat. Ontiveros says there’s no ill will behind it.
“I found a way to incorporate having fun going in with those endorphins and happy hormones and going into a game with that positivity. That’s why we incorporated this,” Ontiveros said.
Parents and players tell KOB 4 they are not happy about the decision.
“We’re all receiving calls from our children around lunchtime, you know, crying, and that is very frustrating and concerning,” said Martha C’deBaca, whose daughter is on the team.
Parents are calling on the school to bring their coach back.
“They got rid of our coach for no reason. We want her to finish out the season,” said Darlene Roybal, another parent.
The school’s athletic director responded to KOB 4 with the following statement:
“We placed our coach on paid administrative leave for the remainder of the season following several instances of not adhering to coaching policies and expectations.”
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