What’s Up in Winlock?
I hear rumors from some extremely reliable parents in Winlock that Winlock Superintendent Dick Conley is making life tough for boys basketball coach Gary Viggers Sr. The word is that Conley “is out to get Viggers,” and from what the parents say, they know of no good reason.
Viggers is a good man and I’m sure the average fan in Winlock has no idea how much extra time and (his own) money Viggers invests in that program. You won’t find anyone who cares more for the kids and the program.
Area fans may remember Conley for his part in the Ron Nilson debacle in Morton in the late 1980s. Conley was principal at Morton at the time. He came over from Idaho a year earlier with then-superintendent Dick Morton. The two of them non-renewed Nilson’s coaching contract (fired him) a few weeks after Morton won a state B championship, also for no apparent reason, and it caused the biggest uproar and community split that I’ve witnessed in 30 years — and Morton sports still haven’t recovered from it. Nilson sued for wrongful termination and won, and it cost the taxpayers in Morton a bundle.
Can anyone out there shed any light on what exactly is going on?
Viggers is a good man and I’m sure the average fan in Winlock has no idea how much extra time and (his own) money Viggers invests in that program. You won’t find anyone who cares more for the kids and the program.
Area fans may remember Conley for his part in the Ron Nilson debacle in Morton in the late 1980s. Conley was principal at Morton at the time. He came over from Idaho a year earlier with then-superintendent Dick Morton. The two of them non-renewed Nilson’s coaching contract (fired him) a few weeks after Morton won a state B championship, also for no apparent reason, and it caused the biggest uproar and community split that I’ve witnessed in 30 years — and Morton sports still haven’t recovered from it. Nilson sued for wrongful termination and won, and it cost the taxpayers in Morton a bundle.
Can anyone out there shed any light on what exactly is going on?
posted by sam bakotich at
10:20 AM
5 Comments:
Hi Sam Bakotich
I think this is a joke. Gary Viggers Sr. has done more for the Winlock Basketball program in 9 years than any former coach at Winlock High. I have never known a coach more devoted to the success of his players, on the court or off the court. Viggers Sr. is the definition of a coach.
Former Player 2002
Jordan Malarz
I am not involved with Winlock or its school system at all but I will now be a former subscriber to The Chronicle after 12 years.
Sam Bakotich is reporting "rumors" from "reliable parents" about what is happening to Gary Viggers Sr. Sam might as well be saying he had a soda with some friends and this is what they said.
I subcribe(d) to The Chronicle to read reported information - articlesl with facts, quotes, or information that the reporter can stand behind. Rumors don't belong in the articles from editors - even if they are only the sports editor.
Again, I am not involved with Winlock at all. Everything I have read about Gary Viggers Sr. has been positive. But please do not report on rumors. If I wanted rumors I would buy a tabloid. Maybe the "reliable parents" are disgruntled parents for one reason or another.
I am not taking sides in this issue but I am taking issue with this so called reporting. So long "comicle."
SOMETIMES THINGS NEED TO BE COMMUNICATED WITHOUT FULLY REVEALING THE SOURCE FROM WHICH IT MAY COME. IT IS NO SECRET HERE IN WINLOCK THAT WE BELIEVE THERE IS SOME SUBSTANCE TO WHAT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED AS RUMORS.I HAVE TO SAY AS A PARENT OF TWO BOYS THAT HAVE HAD THE HONOR TO PLAY FOR "VIGS", I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A COACH THAT IS MORE CARING AND DEVOTED TO THE SUCCESS OF HIS TEAM AND PROGRAM. YOU WANT FACTS? I WOULD LIKE FACTS ALSO. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OTHER HIGHSCHOOL SPORTS IN WINLOCK HAVE HAD A COACH DEDICATE THE NUMBER OF YEARS THAT "VIGS"HAS.HE HAS SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS IN THE GYM, ON THE ROAD, AND ON THE COURT, PREPARING ALL OF HIS PLAYERS BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY.I HAVE BEEN IN WINLOCK FOR 6 YEARS AND AM YET TO SEE THE SUCCESS IN ANY OF OUR OTHER HIGHSCHOOL SPORTS PROGRAMS THAT I SEE IN OUR BOYS BASKETBALL PROGRAM.WE LOVE YOU AND WE ARE 100% BEHIND YOU VIGS!
MARIE & BUTCH HERTZ
As a life long resident of Winlock who's brothers played Winlock High School sports, the mother of a former Winlock Basketball player and now the mother of one of Winlocks "Towers" I found this blog particularly interesting. I first met Vigs when my oldest son was playing basketball in grade school. He has given more time, money, blood, sweat and tears to these kids than any other coach I've ever known. Is he a cocky little fella? You betcha. Does he have any other agenda except to see these kids play their best? No. There have always been people in "the community" who have taken issue w/ Vigs...interestingly enough, they are seldom parents of players. Those of us w/ kids on the team know that the success of our boys is a team effort. That "team" being parents and coaching staff. I love living in this community, I love the small town aspect of living here but with the positives of small town living comes a few negatives. The true bottom line is the kids love him and will go that extra mile for him. When a coach inspires loyalty like that, he's gotta be doing something right.
I have coached at Winlock as both a volunteer and a paid assistant for three different programs... I graduated from Winlock about the time that Gary Sr. started bring a group of young men up through the ranks that he had started coaching in grade school. And the Basketball program in Winlock has never been the same. A "bad season" for Winlock boys hoops is now when they miss out on the state tournament, or don't place there. When I was in school, and before then, a winning record was considered a success... advancing past the first round of districts was amazing! Now that is the absolute least that Cardninal fans expect every year, thanks to Vigs. I played baseball for his son and my younger brother was one of the original grade schoolers that went to California with Vigs' tournament team. Gary is a great guy, a great coach and he cares more for his boys than any coach I have ever seen. If it is true that Winlock's school district leaders are trying to run the best Coach in WHS basketball (probably in any sport at WHS, even better than Makaiwi in football the 70's) history out of town, the exodus to Toledo will continue. Winlock's school district is small enough with limited athletic resources (kids with talent) without poor leadership driving great coaches out of town and forcing parents to send their kids to Toledo or other neighboring districts so that they can taste athletic success. As a Winlock grad and a Cardinal at heart, I would hate to have to send my 4 boys to Toledo because the morons in charge are not allowing the coaches in Winlock to be successful.
Post a Comment
<< Home