Principal Approves Rehiring Embattled High School Coach : Simi Valley: Mike Scyphers was accused of mishandling the team’s discipline and finances. Board will decide if he returns.

Mike Scyphers, Simi Valley High’s embattled baseball coach, has Principal Kathryn Scroggin’s approval to return next season despite a rancorous fight over allegations that the successful coach mishandled the team’s discipline and finances.

The Simi Valley Unified School District board will vote on Scroggin’s recommendation at a closed-door meeting at 6 tonight at City Hall, before the regularly scheduled open meeting at 7.

The board traditionally approves recommendations its principals make, but the rehiring of Scyphers is not guaranteed because of the nature of the case, board members said Monday.

“I think the board will have to review the seriousness of the charges,” member Debbie Sandland said.

Scyphers, who has led the Pioneers to national prominence in his 16 years as coach, said Scroggin told him last week that she would ask that his contract be renewed.

“I’m happy the principal has recommended me for hire and hopefully the board will see it her way,” Scyphers said.

Scroggin could not be reached for comment Monday.

Scyphers, 41, was suspended as coach May 3, pending police and district investigations into possible financial and disciplinary improprieties. Scyphers has admitted that he accepted money for rental of the Simi Valley field in violation of district rules. In addition, he violated state high school rules when he paid his assistant coaches with rental money without the school’s knowledge.

He also has admitted to a traditional team disciplinary practice in which players bid small amounts of money for the right to paddle teammates who break team rules. The practice violates the state Education Code.

The Ventura County district attorney absolved Scyphers of criminal wrongdoing June 8. The school lifted his suspension the next day, nearly two weeks after the end of the high school baseball season. Scyphers missed the team’s final seven games.

Despite the reinstatement, Scyphers needed Scroggin’s recommendation to coach next season. All coaches in the district are hired on one-year contracts, and Scyphers said Scroggin gave him no indication about his status.

“I was quite surprised with the recommendation, obviously,” Sandland said. “I’m very concerned because the paddling is a violation of the Education Code. That’s what we have to keep focusing on.”

Board member Diane Collins would not comment specifically on the Scyphers recommendation, but said she leans toward following the principal’s choice in such cases.

“I believe it is the responsibility of the principal to make those decisions, and I usually support the principal,” Collins said. “In general, I think you hire good people and you respect their decisions that deal directly with their (schools).”

Irene Michael, one of the parents who led a drive to persuade the district to reinstate Scyphers, said she was cautiously optimistic about the news.

“I don’t trust (school administrators) anymore,” said Michael, whose son, Jeff, will be a senior first baseman next season. “It’s still up to the board to approve him or not. And it’s still up to their egos, how badly have they been bruised.”

Second baseman Tim Nykoluk, who will be a senior, said he had thought that school administrators were looking for a reason to fire Scyphers, and he is glad that the coach seems on his way back.

“I think they were basically trying to get him on everything,” Nykoluk said. “I think it’s great (that Scyphers could be back). He’s intelligent. He likes coaching. He teaches us a lot.”

Scyphers, who said he has lost sleep and 15 pounds because of the stress he’s suffered since the investigation began, said he has trouble getting too excited about the news of Scroggin’s recommendation.

“I’m happy in one sense,” Scyphers said, “and not so happy in another because of what my family and I have had to endure in the last few weeks.”