COMMENTARY : Thousand Oaks Fans Deserve Truth About Gomes Case

The departure of Paul Gomes as the top assistant football coach at Thousand Oaks High not only has led to a legal battle between Gomes and the Conejo Valley Unified School District, it has raised questions about the integrity of school and district officials.

In November, first-year Thousand Oaks Principal Keith Wilson announced that Gomes, a 14-year assistant at the school, had voluntarily resigned with two games left in the season to pursue a master’s degree. Bob Richards, head coach of the football team, and William Seaver, the district superintendent, echoed Wilson’s comment.

From the beginning, few in the community believed that explanation. Malissie Jacobs, mother of running back Quincy Jacobs, said, “They insulted my intelligence, really.” And Gomes soon filed suit against the district, claiming he was forced to resign over an incident in which he cursed a player during practice.

Last week, the district all but confirmed the obvious.

In filing a countersuit against Gomes, the district acknowledged for the first time that Gomes was “terminated” and, as a walk-on coach, was subject to immediate dismissal.

Members of the community have a right to know the truth. And public officials have an obligation to tell the truth. Or to say nothing at all.

Why didn’t the district state from the beginning that Gomes was fired? A controversy might not have ensued.

No one disputes that a confrontation occurred between Gomes and a player. Gomes, as well as the seven assistant coaches who walked off the job in support of him, admits to that.

Moreover, Gomes’ coaching methods have been questioned in the past. In 1991, he was accused by some parents of verbally abusing players. In addition, at least two Ventura County football coaches who declined to be identified said they believed Gomes regularly exhibited inappropriate sideline behavior.

If Gomes--or any coach--is guilty of overstepping disciplinary boundaries, he deserves to be reprimanded or fired. And it is the duty of a program’s head coach and school and district administrators to take appropriate action.

When a coach is fired, however, it is also his responsibility to tell players and parents the reason.

All but forgotten amid the controversy looms another unanswered question: Did Gomes deserve to go?

At a school board meeting, 35 people spoke in support of Gomes, many of them former players who described Gomes as an inspirational leader.

Several current players shaved Gomes’ initials into their hair during the season and, at the conclusion of the final game, most of the team stormed into the grandstands where Gomes was sitting as a show of support.

Gomes played for Thousand Oaks, graduating in 1977. He has served as offensive coordinator for the Lancers since 1984, pitching in on a Southern Section championship in 1987. According to Gomes’ legal declaration, last season marked the first time he had been reprimanded for misconduct. A week later, he no longer was coaching.

Perhaps Gomes, a coach with longstanding loyalty to the program, should have been given another chance. If he had exhibited a pattern of abusive behavior, perhaps he should have been fired long ago.

One point is certain: Members of the community--including many who support Gomes--find it difficult to form an opinion without all the facts.

Wilson, after making the initial announcement that Gomes quit to pursue his education, has refused to discuss the case, labeling it “a personnel matter.”

Richards clammed up shortly after backing Wilson’s comment. Conspicuous by his silence, Richards, Thousand Oaks’ coach for 11 years, has offered neither support nor criticism of Gomes. And he will not answer questions about the impact Gomes’ departure will have on the program.

Seaver, the district superintendent, responded to a reporter’s initial inquiry by saying: “It is my understanding that Paul Gomes resigned his position to pursue his master’s degree.” Days later, in returning a reporter’s phone call, Seaver left the following message: “I don’t know anything about Paul Gomes.”

Yet, in Gomes’ six-page declaration, he claims that Seaver was very much involved in his departure. According to the declaration, Seaver, in a telephone conversation with Gomes, remarked: “If it were up to me, I’d fire you.”

Perhaps those in power did exactly that. Perhaps they were justified.

Yet nothing justifies selling a false story to the public.

Those who have demonstrated such lasting emotional and financial support for the Thousand Oaks football program have a right to expect more from the public officials who run it.

They deserve the truth.