Baseball: Varsity coaching staff at Oaks Christian is stepping down in dispute

Tim Penprase, the highly successful baseball coach at Oaks Christian for nine years, announced in an email to parents that effective on Tuesday, “I will no longer be the head baseball coach,” and the varsity coaching staff has also stepped down.

According to Penprase, the school’s new administration, headed by Rob Black, the acting head of school, requested he make changes in his coaching staff at the suggestion of some parents.

Most notably, Penprase said he was asked to remove his father, Rick, an assistant for eight years.

According to the email, “Three weeks ago I was informed by the new administration of changes to our operations that would be required of our program this season based on parent suggestions. I believe, and communicated, that these changes are fundamentally unfair to our players and coaches, and would detrimentally effect their hard work, progress, and opportunity for success this season. Attempts to negotiate a less impactful solution have failed.

“After much thought and consideration for the impact and timing of this decision, I have determined that I must stand up for my beliefs, and cannot, in good conscience, implement these changes. For that reason, I will no longer be allowed to coach at Oaks Christian.”

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