A Letter to Cary High School

I don’t understand; Cary is one of the wealthiest municipalities in our state. I can easily compare it to many areas inside Mecklenburg County. They have the resources (money) to build an outstanding program under the right guidance. They have a tremendous resource in their backyard with the USA Team headquarters. They should have a relationship with them where they could both benefit.

However, the facts are they have had 6 coaches since 2008. They have players quitting during the season, and most recently, their head coach resigned in the middle of the season. Now I don’t know the circumstances for the resignation. It could be for health reasons or some other understandable reason, but the fact is this year’s team has lost their coach: The person that sets the examples and establishes leadership for a team. It’s unfortunate for the players that have remained. These are the guys that didn’t jump ship and have honored their commitment to their team, their school and their community. These kids deserve better.

So where do they go from here? How are they going to attract a talented and committed coach after years of turnover? What coach would want to go there given the history of the program and the apparent lack of support from the administration? I know I wouldn’t and I would never recommend the position to anybody I know. It’s a coaching graveyard……………except for one.

They had the best coach they will ever have: A coach that actually came through the program and went back to his alma mater due to loyalty. He cared…unfortunately, it was not reciprocated. This coach worked tirelessly on and off the field for his players. He bled the Imps. He would constantly badger me to help him get his players placed in college because no one else in the program was trying to help. He would personally call college coaches who didn’t even know him, just to introduce his players to them. If he wasn’t coaching his players, he was promoting them. Everyday he was excited whether going to practice or to the games because he loved his players and he loves the game.

So what does Cary High School want that Jere Morton wasn’t willing to give? He gave them something that obviously has been lacking for many years. He gave the administrators, the players and their parents something that no one else has been willing to give……..his commitment. A commitment of excellence. A commitment to the players at Cary that he will demand their best because they will get his.

Cary HS blew their opportunity to advance their program by not doing the right thing. They had the best coach in their backyard and they let him get away. They need to understand their selection process the last 4 years have been faulty. I suggest they make the easiest, smartest decision immediately. Go get Jere Morton and ask for his forgiveness…..I bet he still has some Imp blood left.

If the community doesn't care what is happening with the baseball program, then let it go. Don't bother Jere Morton. He is starting his career with another program and will be outstanding. But if you really do care and you want a coach who shares those same feelings....then do the right thing and demand that the powers to be do the same thing.

 

Cary has a good team, they just need some direction. The hitting is good, and need some work on the mound, but with the right man, they could be very competitive.

 

My point!

 

It is a shame that they let him get away. It is the kids who miss out here.

 

Amen ! Jere Morton is an outstanding coach and a first class guy. He has helped a lot of kids get an opportunity to play in college (and some of them had no idea of his help). He didn't want a medal, just to be treated like he treats others.

 

Not a simple problem

Cary HS is just 1 of 3 major 4A high schools which reside in Cary (Green Hope and Panther Creek), plus 3 other 4A high schools (Apex, Athens Drive, Middle Creek) which lie just outside the city limits which draw some Cary residents. Cary HS is very successful in sports - wrestling has won a bunch a state championships. Green Hope won the NC Wachovia Cup last year (best overall sports program), yet it's football team is 0-39 in the last 3 years.

So I would compare Green Hope's football program to Cary's baseball program in recent years. The student demographics certainly have influenced both programs, but the lack of success clearly is due to other reasons (i.e. coaching and lack of support for the coaching).

The one common denominator to me is the influence of parents in both programs. Both had parents as coaches or strong parent influence. A parent got a Cary baseball coach fired. A parent was a Cary baseball coach. At least two parents were Green Hope football assistant coaches.

In addition, Cary baseball has had to deal with the summer influence of the very successful Cary Bulls (Jr American Legion team). The Bulls draw from Green Hope, Cary, and Athens Drive high schools - but while Green Hope and Athens Drive don't care where players play in the summer, some recent Cary coaches have prohibited players from playing on for Bulls - making them play in the high school summer league.

All of this controversy has hurt the Cary baseball program, and clearly Braves is correct in that the logical choice now for Cary is to ask Jere to be their head coach. He not only knows the Cary team, but hopefully could get the good players who quit to come back to the team. Plus he has good relations with the Cary Bulls, and now has inside knowledge of Middle Creek which he can use against them.

 

The one common denominator to me is the influence of parents in both programs. Both had parents as coaches or strong parent influence. A parent got a Cary baseball coach fired. A parent was a Cary baseball coach. At least two parents were Green Hope football assistant coaches.

Uh-oh. Here we go ag.....
Nah. leavin' that can of worms closed for now.
Too cold for fishin' today.

 

Lol......

 

Interesting read here...

 

You're right, Coach; It is the players that are being hurt and they deserve better.

Cary does have good players and always have. Sure there may have been some meddling parents, but what program doesn't? My concern has been the lack of commitment to the program and the leadership.

I just hope that someone that can do something will contact Coach Morton and see if he is willing to return. Obviously he has read what I have posted, but he certainly didn't know I was going to do this. But I didn't care if he approved or not. It is the right thing to do and I hope that someone that can make the decision will also do the right thing.

There's a reason that colleges prefer to hire their coach that is a former player. He understands the unique challenges their school faces. It's no different in HS. Jere Morton understands the subtle uniqueness that Cary provides---from players to parents and the administrators. There's a lot to be said for that.