A Derby resident is questioning the process the school district used to hire a varsity boys basketball coach.
The Derby Board of Education unanimously approved the appointment of Francisco Salazar as the high school basketball coach in July. Salazar is a Spanish teacher at Derby High School and has previous experience coaching athletic teams within the district.
However, Thomas Lionetti, a lifelong resident of the city, complained that school officials did not advertise for the position externally — and they didn’t use a search committee to screen applicants.
Lionetti is an active and outspoken Derby resident. He first asked questions about the basketball coach’s hiring at the September meeting of the Derby Board of Education.
Lionetti pointed out a community search committee was used after Carmen DiCenso retired as Derby High School’s football coach. He was replaced by Derby High School graduate George French.
Lionetti, had also complained about that hiring process too, saying that the committee formed then was a “dog and pony show.”
Nevertheless, Lionetti said the school district should have followed its past practice and used a committee before hiring the basketball coach.
Lionetti said he knows at least three men who would have applied for the position.
The Derby Public Schools system does not have a policy saying coaching jobs have to be posted externally. In fact, meeting minutes from the school board show the principal’s position at the high school was advertised internally only.
With athletic coaches, the high school prefers to hire from within, because it increases the chances of student involvement and it provides for better supervision of student athletes, according to new Derby High School Principal Greg Galliard.
In addition, a teacher is better able to monitor the students’ academic performance, Galliard said.
Lionetti, a 1968 graduate of Derby High School, said he’s been following Derby athletics his entire life. The jobs are often posted externally, Lionetti said.
In addition, Lionetti is complaining that Salazar is the brother-in-law of Derby Athletic Director Joseph Orazietti.
“I think the proper thing would have been to follow past practice and post the job externally. It looks too much like nepotism the way they did it,” Lionetti said.
Galliard said the procedure used to hire Salazar was sound.
There were two internal candidates for the job. One candidate dropped out, leaving Salazar the lone candidate.
Galliard said a search committee was formed — but it never convened once Salazar became the lone candidate. The committee included Galliard, Orazietti, a parent and another coach.
The recommendation to hire Salazar was passed from the athletic director to the principal, who endorsed the recommendation and passed it to school Superintendent Stephen Tracy.
Tracy made the recommendation to the Derby Board of Education, who approved the appointment with a public vote.
“Coach Salazar is qualified and experienced. We are fortunate to have him as basketball coach,” Galliard said.
Lionetti said the school district should have advertised the job externally and used its committee, especially when the number of candidates dropped to one. Doing so would have eliminated any appearance of favoritism, Lionetti said.
After Lionetti first raised his questions at the September school board meeting, he submitted a list of questions about the hiring to the school district. Orazietti, the athletic coach, responded in an e-mail, which Lionetti gave to the Valley Indy.
School officials pointed out they are trying to increase participation in the Derby athletic program — a program that is regularly on the chopping block during the annual school budget process.
“My goal was to bring up the (high school) basketball roster numbers,” Orazietti said. “This process would have greater success if we hired a coach who taught in the (high school) and could make contact with all potential student athletes in our school.”
“Since Coach Salazar was qualified we recommended him for the position,” Orazietti said.
Orazietti could not be reached for comment.
Superintendent Stephen Tracy said he offered to arrange a meeting with him, Lionetti and Galliard, but Lionetti did not respond.
Would have/should have?….. Never look back, unless it helps you look ahead. Good luck to Coach Salazar as the new Derby High School basketball coach.
(Reposted from the FB community)
What is Coach Salazar’s basketball resume? I see where the question was brought up in the minutes, but nothing about Salazar’s hiring itself.
Also, this is not, to me, a legit issue. Does Mr. Lionetti know how much these coaches get paid? When I was at Trumbull, my pay for the season was less than $4K, and that was as an assistant; my head coach made barely more. It isn’t the kind of job one scrambles for for the money. Furthermore, you pretty much *have* to hire teachers for these positions. Consider the logistics of practice, games, supervision, etc. I couldn’t coach high school anymore with my work schedule; it’s pretty much an unspoken requirement for someone to be working a teacher’s hours to be able to do this, and Salazar qualifies. Unless you can find absolutely no one to be able to do this, why even worry about opening it up to outsiders and the logistical issues contained with that?
Christopher Bowen: I agree with your knowledgeable comments. Also, Francisco Salazar should be praised for accepting the challenge of coaching Derby’s small, and never tall, basketball squad. Previous coaches in recent times — have had difficulty in posting wins with lesser talent than the larger schools that Derby must compete with.
Tom Lionetti could try being Coach Salazar’s biggest supporter, for accepting the very difficult boys-basketball-coaching job — with an under-manned challenge.
Chris First of all I know all about the pay of high school coach’s.. I understand that you don’t coach for the money but for the LOVE of the game…It was the way they hired him..D H S had a coach that was with the program for the last maybe six years…He put alot of time coaching these kids and was NOT given the opportunity to BID for this job..They did not post this job externally like they did the previous coaching vacancies. My point is WHY not open this job to other candidates ? Do you think that maybe Salazar being Joe’s brother in law had something to do with that? Big LOU was a outsider..That would have been a shame if he wasn’t given the chance to bid on the head football job back in 1967..By the way did you know that Mr. Salazar was a assistant football coach at Derby and quit coaching mid season due to a argument with the head coach..
Chris, Thank you for NOT responding to my answer…..I knew that you would NOT…I wonder what that means?
Tom, I really don’t have much else to say on the subject. You’re insinuating that crony politics might have gotten Salazar the job. I don’t know one way or the other, and frankly, while I think the ends justify the means in this case, this is so far down my personal priority list that I’m not losing sleep over it. I don’t know about Salazar’s issues with the football team because my concern with Derby education is making sure we have the teachers and programs to give our kids a well-rounded education. And I say that as a resident and a coach myself.
That a good enough answer?
Christopher Bowen: Thank you for not responding, also, as this subject has been “beaten to death” and the outcome of the coach selection won’t change, just because someone doesn’t like it.”
Stan, In all due respect….You have a lot to say about everything, but really NOTHING to say about anything… Merry Christmas STAN
Tom: I don’t believe anyone else in Derby, can top you for conversation — as you are known to say EVERYTHING, about anything! You possess an unrestricted, continual expertese. I don’t believe anyone in Derby, can top you.
Sorry if I rubbed you, the wrong way, but I hope you will finally put the Derby basketball coach issue, to rest. You won’t change — the concluded outcome.
Merry Christmas to you, and yours, also.