Administrators ask coach to resign
Ingalls had beer after meet; board says action violated policy
By Natalie Root
Correspondent
EAST GERMANTOWN, Ind. — The Western Wayne wrestling coach will not be allowed to attend tonight’s winter sports banquet because he violated district policy last month when he had a beer at dinner with parents and his team members after the state meet.
More than 40 parents and students attended Monday’s Western Wayne school board meeting in support of wrestling coach Jerry Ingalls, who said his administrators have asked him to resign or he will be fired.
Ingalls apparently violated school policy when he drank beer at a restaurant with parents and his team members after the state wrestling meet in February.
Six adults and two seniors spoke in support of Ingalls, who coaches middle and high school wrestling, asking he be permitted to present wrestling awards at a banquet tonight.
Parent James Black said he had a petition supporting Ingalls’ participation at the banquet and another supporting him as coach, both of them with more than 100 names.
Parent Terri Black also asked that Ingalls not be prohibited from presenting awards tonight, especially to the nine seniors, saying, “That would be a black cloud over everything they’ve accomplished this year.”
No school board member or official commented during the meeting, but the audience was told that they could find out if Ingalls would be allowed to present awards tonight by calling the school today. This morning, athletic director Garry Laymon said Ingalls would not be allowed to attend the event because he violated the school’s conduct policy for coaches.
John Duebel said he has coached youth for many years, and that Ingalls has the kind of passion it takes to be a good coach.
Senior Randy Gibson said Ingalls helped him improve as a wrestler since the seventh grade, noting he has 118 wins, the most in school history.
Senior Daniel Moss said, “Jerry has always pushed me to be a better person, “and that he wants his younger brother to have the same kind of experience with Ingalls.
Ingalls said after the meeting that his athletic director and principal have asked that he resign because of the incident, which followed a meet at the wrestling state finals. He said that after the meet, he returned to his hotel room, or “pretty much my home for the night.”
“All the kids and the parents came to my hotel and asked me if I wanted to go out to eat, “he said.
Ingalls said one of the adults ordered a pitcher of beer and he had a glass of beer. He said the students were not sitting with him. School staff learned of the incident when he turned in his receipt for meal reimbursement, he said.
Ingalls said he requested an executive session with the board to discuss the matter, but he was told that “they decide if they need to meet with me.”
Ingalls said he would understand a reprimand about the incident, but he doesn’t believe it warrants termination. Ingalls had his letter of resignation ready Monday night, but asked the board not to accept it.
“All the kids were with their parents or the people who had brought them out there, “he said. “I wasn’t responsible for anyone. The school didn’t take anyone out there. No school vehicles were used.”
Ingalls spoke during the meeting, saying he had brought his letter of resignation. However, he said he thinks it would be a mistake for the board to terminate him.
“Quick decisions were made, and we ought to slow it down a little bit and talk it over a little more and see if there is a better way to resolve it, “he said.
After the meeting, he said, “This community wants wrestling because they see what it’s done for the kids, not just what they’ve done in wrestling, but what they’ve done with their lives. I’ve had kids that were F students when they were freshmen and now they’re A/B students going to Ivy Tech.”
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