Lake Oswego Coach Fired (for doing the right thing) - writing letters to state officials advocating for change to laws pertaining to transgender athletes
The head track & field coach at Lake Oswego High School said the district terminated his contract for writing letters to state officials advocating for change t
Like everything in life, there is probably a lot more to this story. Coach Parks, like most human beings, has strengths and weaknesses.
He is right that biological males in competitive female sports divisions is not something we can just ignore. But the school district wouldn't fire someone simply for making that statement.
Until we have all the information, I think it is best if we hold off and hear the whole story. I highly doubt he was fired for doing the "right thing." The people in the school's administration are not crazy and the town is not some clueless bastion of "wokeness."
That is why I am waiting until I have all (or at least more) of the facts.
This post was edited 4 minutes after it was posted.
Whether John Parks is right or wrong here, I feel obligated to mention he is not someone you should feel sorry for. It was a well established fact that he was (and I assume still is) a collosal a**hole when I was running in HS 20-25 years ago. If you like screaming at high school JV athletes to the point they are in tears DURING a race, trying to get competing schools DQed because their coaches are tending to their injuries, someone who loves exploiting ticky-tacky rules (think: necklace uniform rule violations), falsifying entry times, and, frankly, just being an all-around jerk, then he is your guy. I was shocked to see he was still coaching after he was fired from McKay High School 15 years ago. The dude sucks and should be nowhere around coaching high school kids.
Fun fact: When he was coaching/managing/whatever sprinter Ryan Bailey, he got audited by the IRS and somehow got off by arguing his coaching fees were "hobby" related income despite, you know, being a coach.
Regardless of anyone's "feelings" about the topic at hand or if he's an a-hole or not, he was fired for expressing his thoughts to the governing bodies of the athletic association and the board of education. He was fired for breaking rank in the district and not just putting his head down and bowing to the deranged "leadership" to protect girls in sports including kids he has coached to amazing results. In a system like his, theres always going to be complainers. This was a chance for them to get their shots in as well.
Oregon is a complete mental zoo when it comes to social jihad movements from the governors office all the way down to local control and supported by whacky teachers unions. 13 counties with more to come are ready to join Idaho at this writing for good reasons. Gender confusion is a line that is clear and people are being clear about it on both sides. Hes argument for inclusion but fairness is abiut as middle of the road as it gets. Sounds like a first amendment case to me. The district Im sure has a character clause in their contracts for bringing bad light to their district. They have chosen which side they support and will throw anyone under the bus if necessary to keep those federal dollars rolling in. Shameless sheep with no backbones and "our hands are tied" bs.
Again, not going to comment on the trans girl issue, but what just want to point out HE is saying his letters are what got him fired and the school district is not comment, thus not indicating why one way or another. So all this is story is going off of is his side, and knowing him, it might just be a convenient excuse/cover. As the saying goes "there is always more to the story" and I would 100% not be surprised in the least if he was fired because of his behavior or some other crap he pulled.
There's that but Im sure his ego/success/stature in the track community gave him the courage to stand up and send the letters in the first place. Keep in mind how many "leaders" of kids just look at the situation as a bigger problem than they can make an impact on and just leave it up to the one voice that has a little courage. It's happening in all facets of society. In reality, NOW is the time for all who believe in the rights of girls to stand together, not fall divided. They have to be shown how. Im not conspiracy theorizing what we dont know. As a leader, Ive had to stand alone several times for what was right. Wins, losses and draws were a part of my experiences but I didnt just cave. In some cases, I actually inspired some and changed hearts and minds of others. Leaders have to lead and show how its done win, lose or draw. This is just a micro example of a couple major problems in this country. Turning away from God and Men wont be men and lead. Indoctrination at all levels of education. Women have tried to pick up the slack but are met with greater challenges than, courageous, educated men would be.
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Turning away from God and Men wont be men and lead. Indoctrination at all levels of education. Women have tried to pick up the slack but are met with greater challenges than, courageous, educated men would be.
I disagree with your final thesis (above). I think women will be met with a lot less resistance on this issue than "courageous men" would. Men have had thousands of years to organize society and culture and sport. We did a C+/B- job at best. I'd like to let women lead on this issue (and on abortion and several other issues).
The women should meet up in Seneca Falls, New York (again) and report back what the plan is. They are smarter than men at this point and this issue impacts them the most.
If they decide they want the trans-girls to play/compete with them, fine. If not, that's fine too. Women should absolutely lead on women's issues. That said, I appreciate what Coach Parks was saying, but I think we can agree he was not the right person to lead this fight. I think it is much more powerful when it comes from female athletes, moms, and female coaches.
Like everything in life, there is probably a lot more to this story. Coach Parks, like most human beings, has strengths and weaknesses.
He is right that biological males in competitive female sports divisions is not something we can just ignore. But the school district wouldn't fire someone simply for making that statement.
Again, not going to comment on the trans girl issue, but what just want to point out HE is saying his letters are what got him fired and the school district is not comment, thus not indicating why one way or another. So all this is story is going off of is his side, and knowing him, it might just be a convenient excuse/cover. As the saying goes "there is always more to the story" and I would 100% not be surprised in the least if he was fired because of his behavior or some other crap he pulled.
So the school district not commenting means his is lying?
Were he fired "because of his behavior or some other crap he pulled", who would they not say so?
I live very close to McDaniel High (and ran on their track yesterday), so I'm keenly aware of this story. I'm fairly left of center generally but also have views on subjects that are center right. In this case, if he truly was terminated for this, it's definitely a bad sign for people who wish to voice an opinion that differs from the accepted one in a place like Oregon, and it's something I've experienced among some of the people I know who are further left on this issue. I consider this to be a fairly minor issue overall - of all the secondary school athletic events taking place across the US, I'm guessing this affects less than 1% of them. However, in the spirit of fairness, we should have a way to ensure that competitions, regardless of the limited examples where this has occurred, do not allow someone who identifies as a female but is for all other indicators a physiological male to race against physiological females (i.e. not following the international standards established to address this). I thought the idea of having an open category to be a good one and also avoids the cruelty and booing by enraged spectators that happened in Lake Oswego.
Unless there is definitely more to the story of why he was terminated, I can't help but think that dissent from the accepted viewpoint on this subject will be quashed and the current approach is just going to end up hurting more people and athletes of all gender identities.
Isn't this the high school that Mia Brahe-Pedersen attends?
Yep, or I guess, it was her high school until she just graduated. On to USC (and it's just an absolute sign of how sad Oregon's recruiting is that we lost her to a chief rival).
I live very close to McDaniel High (and ran on their track yesterday), so I'm keenly aware of this story. I'm fairly left of center generally but also have views on subjects that are center right. In this case, if he truly was terminated for this, it's definitely a bad sign for people who wish to voice an opinion that differs from the accepted one in a place like Oregon, and it's something I've experienced among some of the people I know who are further left on this issue. I consider this to be a fairly minor issue overall - of all the secondary school athletic events taking place across the US, I'm guessing this affects less than 1% of them. However, in the spirit of fairness, we should have a way to ensure that competitions, regardless of the limited examples where this has occurred, do not allow someone who identifies as a female but is for all other indicators a physiological male to race against physiological females (i.e. not following the international standards established to address this). I thought the idea of having an open category to be a good one and also avoids the cruelty and booing by enraged spectators that happened in Lake Oswego.
Unless there is definitely more to the story of why he was terminated, I can't help but think that dissent from the accepted viewpoint on this subject will be quashed and the current approach is just going to end up hurting more people and athletes of all gender identities.
No way he got fired for this alone. I know a coach in the California bay area who posted about a trans athlete who ended the seasons of a bunch of his athletes on instagram - lots of local and presumably district pushback, but he was never fired for it. He ended up leaving because he got offered a better job elsewhere.
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The Shallow Mud Hole Surrounded By Expensive Real Estate
Something isn't right here. My take - Lake Oswego returns to being an also ran program next year. They lost two generational talents in Brahe-Pederson and Donelson to graduation. Cenaiya Billups (daughter of Basketball HOF member and Portland Trailblazers head coach, Chauncey Billups) and Riley Ha also graduated. That pretty much guts their women's sprint squad. They had two decent distance runners and one just graduated.
While many may agree with Parks' stand on the transgender issue, I think that he is using it as a means to be let go from his job without being exposed next season. Go out on top, right? Then blame the OSAA, parents, and wokeness for your termination and denying you dynasty status. I don't doubt that there may also be some parent driven politics going on. Lake Oswego is a very wealthy community with some very entitled citizens. In any event, Parks is now a free agent and gets to play the victim card while angling for a new job.
High school coaching is most definitely a hobby for most coaches. They are clearly not in it to make it profitable. If he got off through that argument, it's because it was valid.
And just because you cried during a JV race, doesn't he's an a-hole. It just means you, yes you, were a puss and still are.
The coach is well known for his energy, knowledge, and commitment to the sport. But nobody is perfect.
If he was in this kid's face all season (at multiple meets), that is not okay. You don't change the law by going after the kid.
If we all agree that the law needs to be changed, fine. But we do that by sitting down with OSAA and the other adults and changing it. Not by cornering a teenager and "giving them a piece of your mind."
BTW, it looks like the facts are starting to come out. Here is the full article since it is normally behind a paywall:
Lake Oswego track coach dismissed, citing Portland Schools complaint of his response to transgender athlete inclusion A Lake Oswego High School coach says he has been fired from his position over allegations that he antagonized a transgender student-athlete who competed in Oregon’s track and field state championships and rallied coaches and families to protest her participation.
John Parks, who was cross country and track and field coach at Lake Oswego High, reached out to Oregon media outlets on Monday, stating that he had been dismissed after the school district conducted an investigation that was started by a formal complaint sent in by Portland Public Schools Athletic Director Marshall Haskins.
“The basic cause of my dismissal is fighting for females right to compete in sports fairly,” Parks wrote in an email. “I know you are fully aware of the debates on this issue and let me say I had 2 transgender athletes on my team this spring and I support them like all other athletes and only seek a solution that is a win for all as we don’t need any athletes subjected to what happened last month. Instead of a fair and measured investigation I was a victim of my passion for coaching, helping female athletes.”
The dismissal comes just weeks after a transgender girl athlete competed in the Oregon high school state track and field championships, finishing second in the 400-meter dash and winning the 200. Although the athlete was in compliance with OSAA rules, the results became a flashpoint in the debate over transgender athletes’ rights in Oregon and elsewhere.
According to Kristin Binkley, Parks’ attorney, the reason that Parks was given for his dismissal was a violation of school district policy when he sent a letter to the OSAA on May 15 (days before the state championship meet) asking that the state association change its rules, which allow transgender student-athletes to compete in the activity that aligns with their gender identity.
In his letter, Parks notes that the transgender student-athlete was favored to win the 200-meter dash in Class 6A (which she did) and would be strong competition for the 400-meter dash (which was being defended by a two-time state champion who currently holds the state record in the event and was coached by Parks). Parks added that, based on her current trajectory, the transgender student-athlete would be on pace to break the state records in the 200 and 400 in the coming years since she was just a sophomore in the 2024 season.
“Allowing this travesty to be carried out is making a complete mockery of the meet this weekend and in the future until the rules are altered to protect natural born females,” he wrote in the letter to the OSAA. The Oregonian/OregonLive is not naming the student-athlete to protect her privacy.
Parks’ letter to the OSAA asked that the OSAA create an “open” category that put transgender student athletes in a separate competition in the state meet, similar to the way the OSAA runs competitions for athletes with disabilities.
“The OSAA already has state meet events for para-athletes in wheelchair and Unified competition. The solution to trans athletes is to have an open category like a gender neutral bathroom,” Parks wrote. “Allows competition opportunities but doesn’t make a mockery of the reason females compete in their own category.”
Parks also cited that USA Track & Field requires transgender athletes complete certain benchmarks before competing against opponents that match their gender identity. The World Athletics Council does not allow transgender women to compete against female athletes.
The OSAA’s policy is created through the guidelines that are set by the Oregon Department of Education and the federal government. The policies are made by the OSAA’s executive board, which includes representatives from Oregon schools around the state.
Parks and Binkley both claimed that Parks’ letter to the OSAA had the approval of Lake Oswego Athletic Director Chris Coleman even though it was cited among the reasons for his dismissal. Coleman did not respond to a request for inquiry from The Oregonian. A Lake Oswego School District representative stated that coaches are hired on one-year contracts and the district would not comment on a personnel matter.
Haskins sent a letter to the Lake Oswego School District and Salem-Keizer School District, where Parks is a teacher according to his LinkedIn, on May 24 claiming that Parks made the Portland transgender student-athlete feel “unwelcome and discriminated against” throughout the spring.
“I was appalled, disappointed and embarrassed for Lake Oswego and Salem Keizer School districts because of the behavior of one of your employees,” Haskins’ email to the school districts reads. The athlete attends McDaniel High School, which is part of Portland Public Schools. It is not clear how Haskins heard about the remarks or Parks’ advocacy.
Haskins claimed that Parks contacted other coaches and parents from around the state, asking them to reach out to the OSAA demanding they bar the transgender athlete from the female competition. He also asked coaches to boycott the medal presentations, Haskins said. The letter from Haskins also claims that Parks was contacting families and student-athletes before the state meet “forcing them to participate in his personal agenda.”
Haskins also claimed that Parks was “riling up” tournament spectators who booed and jeered at the state meet as the transgender athlete competed and received her medals. Haskins alleged that Parks spoke negatively with the transgender student-athlete during her medal presentation. A person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Oregonian that Parks’ remark to the student athlete was: “It will never be a fair race if you’re in it.” The Oregonian was not able to verify with the athlete Tuesday about what was said during the presentation. Parks did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on that allegation.
Parks said that the investigation from Lake Oswego School District found Haskins’ letter to the district to be “hearsay and erroneous.” Parks has been the head track and field coach at Lake Oswego High School since the 2022-23 school year. In that time, the Lakers’ girls team has won the state championship (or tied for first) for three straight seasons. Parks has been a sprints coach at the professional and Olympic level for 20 years even prior to working at Lake Oswego. He coached previously at Auburn, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Oregon State (both in football, and in track and field), Portland State and Willamette University.
This post was edited 5 minutes after it was posted.
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