Football Coach’s Firing Upheld by District Official

The firing of Escondido High School football Coach Dennis Snyder was upheld Wednesday by the school district’s superintendent.

John Cooper, Escondido Union High School District superintendent, denied an appeal by Snyder, supporting the decision by Principal Jackie Nichols that Snyder should not “submit his name to me next year as varsity football coach.”

“I wasn’t surprised,” Snyder said. “I didn’t like it, but I have learned not to be surprised about what’s going on anymore.”

Snyder, who coached for 21 years, the last nine as Escondido head football coach, said he will appeal to the district’s school board at its regular meeting Jan. 14.

Nichols, in her first year at Escondido, said she had requested Snyder’s resignation because of his lack of involvement in a parent booster organization, which took over the duties this season of the football booster club.

Snyder has said he had no time to work with the organization during football season.

Snyder said Nichols has asked him to return next season as an assistant football coach.

“I will have to give this a lot of thought because if (the appeal) doesn’t work out for me, I don’t think other coaches should be faced with the same requirements. . . . I don’t think it’s very fair,” Snyder said.