BY SYDNEY HOOVER
The former head coach for Eudora’s girls’ basketball team responded Wednesday to the School Board’s decision to place him on administrative leave from his coaching duties Monday.
Richard Ebel was placed on administrative leave for the remainder of the school year following what both Ebel and board president Eric Votaw described as “philosophical differences.”
Ebel shed light on what these philosophical differences included, saying in an interview Wednesday afternoon he and some in the district disagreed on effective ways to run practice. He said he was not going to change the way he ran practice and felt the request to do so was an overreach.
Additionally, Ebel said he believed some comments he made during practices and games had been taken out of context. He said some comments attributed to him were made up entirely.
“I served Kansas kids in education for 50 years and to attribute these comments to me I just think was wrong without understanding the way that they were meant to be,” Ebel said. “I just didn’t get the support on that and that was disturbing.”
Votaw declined further comment on Monday following the board meeting vote, saying it was “time for a different direction for the program.”
Ebel said he still admires the Eudora School District and made memories as a coach that he will continue to cherish.
“It’s a great school system, from the administrators, the teachers and coaches are very dedicated and hardworking educators that really care about their kids,” Ebel said. “And the student body, I was always impressed with the school spirit that they showed.”
Ebel will continue coaching as a volunteer coach for Baker University for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.
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