Stroh Named Football Coach at Granada Hills High : Despite Winning Season, Quigley Replaced Amid Reports of Humiliating Treatment of Players; Team Banquet Canceled

Amid reports of unrest in the Granada Hills High School football program, principal Al Irwin on Friday named Darryl Stroh as the school’s new football coach.

Following his dismissal, outgoing coach Wayne Quigley canceled the school’s annual team banquet, an event at which players and their parents traditionally celebrate the team’s efforts.

Stroh, the school’s varsity baseball coach and B football coach, was named to head the varsity football team next fall, Irwin said. Stroh will also continue to coach baseball.

The controversy over the head coaching position surfaced last week when Irwin announced his decision to fire Quigley as coach at the end of a season in which the Highlanders won their first league championship since 1977.

Irwin gave no reasons for the dismissal, except to cite “philosophical differences” with the coach, who retains his faculty position as a physical education instructor. All of the football coaches in the program had their positions terminated as well. All were given the opportunity to reapply.

Some players said Irwin had received complaints from members of the team and their parents about Quigley’s coaching style, which they characterized as harsh and humiliating.

“I hate the man with a passion,” said one player, who asked that his name not be used. “I went home crying one night because the guy embarrassed me in front of everyone. He’s accused half the team of being on drugs.”

The player said Irwin interviewed several players who complained about the coach.

Irwin declined to comment on those reports.

“I decided a change needed to be made and I’m making a change,” he said. “I’ve made a good, thorough investigation of the whole situation.”

Responding to the reports of discontent on his team, Quigley said he was unaware that any players objected to his methods.

“There are a couple kids I embarrassed,” he said. “I think at certain times during the season kids need to be embarrassed if that gets a response from them to perform better.”

Quigley, 38, said he thought only one parent had complained about him. He said the complaint came at the urging of a school employee who wanted him removed.

On Thursday, Quigley told the team that he had decided to cancel their banquet, which was scheduled for Jan. 22. The banquet is held off campus and is organized by the coach.

“There were some quotes in the Daily News,” Quigley said, referring to an article on his dismissal. “The next day I had two players insult me verbally. I felt that since I am no longer the coach there in charge and had no power or authority any longer, that I would be foolish to stand up in front of a group of people of whom a small percentage did not accept me.”

Several players said, however, that Quigley told them he did not want to be exposed to negative comments from parents and students.

“I can see where his point of view was,” said one student who defended the coach. “He feels that he shouldn’t have to get up there and talk in front of those parents and take any cheap shots.”

In spite of his dismissal, Quigley, who has reapplied for his coaching position, retained several strong supporters among his former players.

“I never had any problems with the coach,” said senior defensive end Rick Wayne. “I thought he did a lot of stuff for me. Recently I was elected scholar-athlete for the national football Hall of Fame.”

“He was rough, but all coaches are like that,” said another player, Darrell Williams. “He made me a better player.”

The Highlanders, who were picked by some to finish as low as fourth in the Valley 4-A League, finished 3-1 in the league to tie with Kennedy High. Granada Hills finished 6-4 overall. The team lost to Gardena, fourth-place representative of the Pacific League, 37-21, in the first round of the City 4-A playoffs.

As Quigley’s replacement, Stroh, 45, will assume a job he was offered once before but refused.

Stroh began at Granada Hills as a student teacher in the early 1960s. He held several positions in the football program--including junior varsity coach and varsity defensive coordinator--and was offered the head varsity job in 1979 when Jack Neumeier retired.

Stroh said he turned down the job then because he “didn’t want the responsibility at that point” of his life.

Stroh, who has been head varsity baseball coach since 1970, added, “I was tired (at that time). I don’t know if burned out was the word but it was taking a toll on my family life. I wanted to get away, but not from football.”

After one year as an assistant under Quigley, he became a coach of the B team in 1980. Stroh and co-Coach Tom Harp have directed the B team to two straight undefeated seasons.

“I’m a very excitable person,” Stroh said. “I get real emotional. I used to more than I do now. The emotions (of the game) stayed with me throughout the week, and I was difficult to live with at home. Hopefully, I’ve overcome that.”