Taft High Baseball Coaches Will Hold the Same Positions Next Year Despite Complaints

Taft High baseball Coach Art Martinez and assistant Rolf Rahl, under fire since early May, will remain in their positions as varsity and junior varsity coaches, said assistant principal Larry Messenger on Tuesday.

A meeting Monday night between Taft administrators, parents and baseball coaches culminated weeks of conjecture that Martinez would not return as varsity coach next season. Twenty varsity and junior varsity players signed a petition in early May asking the Taft administration for a coaching change.

“That’s all over now,” Messenger said of the meeting in which disgruntled parents and one player confronted Martinez and Rahl with complaints. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s a dead issue, but we’ll always listen to a parent regarding the well-being of a student.”

Said Martinez: “I’m happy with the outcome of the meeting, and I’m just glad this whole thing is over.”