The coaching carousel at Ringgold High School took another turn last Friday with the resignation of football coach and athletic director Lloyd Price.
Sources told the Observer-Reporter that Price resigned for personal reasons. He did not return a message left on his cell phone Monday afternoon.
Ringgold hired Price as athletic director three years ago at the age of 24. He was the youngest athletic director in the WPIAL at the time of the hire. He replaced Jeff Petrucci as football coach last March and the Rams went 4-6 in 2009 with only one returning starter. Price was suspended for the second and third games of the season for unspecified reasons.
The timing of the resignation, which was effective immediately, is peculiar. Price received a five-year contract extension as athletic director in March. He was to receive $63,616 annually beginning July 1.
Price graduated from Ringgold in 2001 and played three sports – football, basketball and baseball. He played football for John Lukchardt at California University and coached there in 2006.
Ringgold's next football coach will be its eighth in the past 12 years.
78 comments:
I heard he was going to USC...
AD jobs dont generally get filled in the middle of the school yr...I doubt seriously he is going to St Clair as AD.....He was working his dream job - at his alma mater as AD and head football coach.....At such a young age to.....And his football team was possibly going to be bearing fruit this fall......
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.....There has to be more to this story - if he was leaving Ringgold for an AD job elsewhere - wouldnt that news have been made public by now.... after signing a 5 yr extension just a few weeks ago.........
This is a perfect story for investigative journalism........People dont leave jobs w/o another job waiting unless there is something fishy going on....and if he was leaving for another job, he would have made that known so speculation and rumors wouldnt be running rampmant...Plus, contracts like his typically have 60 day notices built in yet Ringgold didnt enforce it - maybe they wanted him gone...Just something to consider...
Don't know anything about the Ringgold situation (other than it appears to be 'typical' of the district's dysfunction--surprised Lloyd lasted as long as he did).
Does anyone know about the efforts of at least 2 Peters Township school directors preventing Coach Milchovich from rehiring his staff--and trying to force him into resigning? Watch out Peters, the people behind this have just one agenda--and it isn't 'the team.'
I bet there are all kinds of qualified people going to apply for that job. What a bunch of jabrones they have running Ringold.
That's the last time I offer to cover something at Ringgold. Lloyd took care of reporters like few other ADs did.
He quit, how does that have anything to do with who's running Ringgold? They better find a home town guy who will stay around a few years and cares about the place. Lloyd was not the guy, one name does come to mind, but the bridge might have been burned last year.
Im not sure a "home-twon" guy is necessary....It would be nice but that doesnt guarantee success..How about someone who wasnt an arrogant jerk like he was......From the people I know, no one is crying over Price leaving..Hell, his leaving might even get the players to perform better - they despised him.
But back to your point - Lloyd was homegrown - he could have retired at this job - but its not happening is it..Hire someone who is full of values and morals and treats people like they want treated...
Just keep your eyes and ears open - what caused his resignation might shock some people once it becomes public......Dont ask me to reveal because it wont happen -but in due time, this will be public knowledge...
I supported Lloyd. He may have had an arrogant demeanor, but he was commited to getting Ringgold athletics to respectability. I am upset to see him go and I hope they can get a person who is as hard a worker as he is.
Again, people say what you will. The people that complain are the people whose kids do not play. He was working the kids hard and they are probally not used to that at Ringgold.
I go to every Ringgold football game, but I may not go to a single game this year because of him not being there.
@Anon 9:58Am
People not liking him had nothing to do with playing time or demanding his players work....
What it comes down to is that he treated people (students, parents, adults not associated with the program) as if he was better than everyone....Anytime someone badmouths a coach, the stock answer is "playing time" ..B.S.
I just call a spade a spade - he is a jerk and its your loss if you stay way from Ringgold football - they might actually have success without him around..
When you find out why he resigned, tell me then how committed he was....
Sarcastic Sword I am willing to bet that you have know idea why he resigned. I can be sure of that!
@Anon 11:18AM
Believe what you want....I will not sling dirt here until the events that caused the resignation become public knowledge - until then, feel free to tell me Im full of it.....But I know what I was told from someone that would know what is going on....
Think about it - he didnt take another job....No One (in any line of work) resigns from another job if there isnt a new job waiting unless there was "misconduct" pertaining to his duties........He resigned before he could be fired......If you are patient, the truth will come out....Im not saying anything else in response to people who dont believe he did something wrong...
Sarcastic Sword KNOWS what he/she's talking about...Brace yourselves...
A couple of Peters Township school board members are going after members of Nick Milchovich's staff. These members have personal agendas and threaten to destroy what should be a great 2010 season
More than one person in the know will tell you that the ultimate goal is to have Nick resign and then replace him with a board member's personal choice! PT is becoming Ringgold.
Here is what to think about:
1. When you have a school board president who listens to no one, feels she answers to no one, and makes complete nepotism-type decisions on everything....these are the issues you end up with. And that is not just with athletics. The district has become a joke academically and athletically.
2. Price should have never been retained after what he was suspended for this past season.
3. Price was obviously too young to handle that job.
We should pray for Paul Zolak to be able to clean this up!
I feel bad for the kids at Ringgold. They are the ones that will pay the price (no pun intended) in the long run. I was never a fan of the Athletic Director being the Football coach. At a AAA or AAAA school there is just too much to do and if you have to worry about all the other sports and schedules it takes away from the football team. I hope the board decides to go with a full time athletic director who will want to be there to continue to steer them in the right direction. I havent heard of many names that will want it but i did hear of some people that either went there or had coached there in the past. Any truth to these rumore?
I heard Kuhns is interested. He could bring some good things to the program. They won a AAAA conference title when he was dc there. Colbourn's name is coming up also. He was successful there wheh they were in AAAA.
To the Ringgold School BD...Please dont go back to the future....Do not hire anyone ever associated with this program..No Colborn.....No Kuhns.....No one from the current staff.....This program needs new blood...
Could Guy Montecalvo be interested in the football/AD jobs? I know he is probably happy at canon-mcmillan but if he is looking for a change of scenery (and I'm not saying he is at all) he would make a nice logical, safe candidate for both positions.
Ringgold is not going to pay Montecalvo what Canon Mac is paying him now. Plus, they would find a way to run him out.
Anon at 9:19:
Not only a safe choice but a great choice, but you can't buy that type of leadership and experience. He's gotta have like 25 yrs. experience.......won several championships,etc. I remember Roger D. thought he had him sewed up and coming here before but couldn't pull it off.
I heard Colburn getting the position was a done deal if he wants it. He had a lot of success there in the past.
Colborn would be a great choice. Kuhns is not interested. I saw him this weekend and he looked at me like I was crazy when I brought it up.
Why would anyone Colborn back?? Would you fire someone and then turn around and rehire them someday? He was gone for a reason.
@D.H...
Is Colborn interested in coach and AD or just one of the jobs?
There's a darkhorse candidate that will have the community/football players backing him hard. Former coach who left when Price got the job. Then was very instrumental in helping his new team beat Ringgold last year. They won't hire Colburn.
The AD position is more important than the FB coach position. And they should not be attached. That's too much for one person.
He either spends too much time on football or too much time ADing. You can't do both effectively.
I wish people in this pathetic world would ever respect things if it really is absolutely none of their business. As for people who "want" to get to the bottom of it, you are the worst.
Coach Colborn is a terrible choice... He completely ruined the best Ringgold Football Team they had in the last 15 years. The 2001 Ringgold football should have done a lot better. He had great athletes. That team beat Mt. Lebo which won the state championship and was their only loss of the year.
That last comment about Ringgold's success in 2001 is inaccurate. Mt. Lebanon did not play Ringgold after the realignment for the 2000 season, and Lebo's successful season was in 2000 when they were beat by Erie Cathedral Prep in the state semi-finals. In 2001, Mt. Lebanon got beat in the 2nd round of the playoffs.
I didn't hear Colborn wanted the job. I DID hear why Price left. That I will not repeat. I do know one homegrown guy who wants the jobs - and the board would be smart to give them to him. He's been around, he knows his stuff, and the kids love him.
Who? Rick smith?
I also heard there was a guy that played on that basketball championship team thats been coaching since then that wants the AD position. Any truth to that one?
The former coach who helped beat his former team is Rick Smith but youve got to be kidding - he wasnt even the #1 coach for the position he coached - there was like three guys who all were OL coaches...hes nothing but a guy who provides comedic relief - if he gets hired, Wow! Nothing like having relatives on the school board...
Sarcastic Sword - I don't know about Colborn's interest. I talked to Kuhns, no Colborn. For the Colborn bashers, I think he did a great job when he was here before. The program was in great shape under him and then Venick. Jeff Matty is the one who destroyed Ram football.
Can we please get off of the Colburn getting the job talk. He was fired from Ringgold and Albert Gallatin and the boys who have played for him in the past cant stand him. We need a coach who will put the players first and not their own personal ego's. Hasnt the school board of Ringgold learned their lesson with Price? Colburn would be an even bigger mistake!
Only one Coach left when Price came--Rick Smith. I did hear Rick Smith wants the job.
What Ringgold needs is someone who will not leave after two years.
Russ Moore would still be coach if Ringgold did not oust him.
Rick Smith does not belong in the AD position or a head coaching position. He does not conduct himself as a professional on or off the field.
Matt Humbert, the OC from last season will be named Head Coach in an effort to maintain some sort of continuity in the program.
I saw this on pasportsboard. Is he a teacher or will they give him both?
I played for Rick Smith, he didn't coach o-line at all. He was our one and only d-line coach. I also was NOT getting help with recruiting in our athletic office, I went to him, he made three phone calls and I got scholarship money. Best coach Ringgold has had, the players will kill for him. And he won't leave, him and that idiot price do not get along, Price wouldn't hire him, so Coach Dumm got him in at EF, just so you know, and Coach Dumm told me this, he let Coach Rick call the defense the whole Ringgold game, and take away two plays, one in which the ball bounced off the EF's DB's head and right into the Ringgold receiver's hands, he pitched a shutout.
@ Sarcastic Sword:
Ummmmm, yeah, you obviously have no idea what you are talking about... Rick Smith was the D-Line coach, and he was the ONLY one. In case you need help with that, D-Line means defensive line. They dont have a quarterback on their side. Hope that helps. Maybe you should check your facts before you start mouthing off next time.
"Rick Smith does not belong in the AD position or a head coaching position. He does not conduct himself as a professional on or off the field."
perfect fit for ringgold then
Actually Eric Gill left too when Price came in.
The schoolboard need to put their egos aside and think of the kids. No nepotism no calling in favors just plain and simple help the kids. They need someone that will TEACH the kids not tell them over and over how great you were at cal....The kids at ringgold need to be taught and disciplined. Someone that will spend equal amount of time getting to know each player and know what they will do for the team. Show discipline not favoritism. Put things back into prospective for them. Then you will get their respect back.
@ Anonymous 3:16 pm:
You obviously don't know Rick Smith very well...or are you just jealous?
@ Anonymous 6:01 pm:
You just described Rick Smith.
P.S. There is no nepotism since school board members who are related won't vote.
For who ever anonymous is I played football for over 15 years and 3 of those years Rick was my d line coach he did a great job if you saw anything from the 2009 season you would know our d-line had a good year. He also did more work getting me into a college to play football than Price did. He cares about his players and the school. He is a perfect canidate for both jobs.
Humbert better not get the HC job. He cannot call a play to save his life. I hate to say it, but I would prefer to have Petrucci back.
Don't be surprised when a California University of PA Coach gets the job.
regarding getting a Cal U coach..........that would be superb....Im sure this person would be qualified but it also means that none of the recycled names got the job either...
and for all of the Rick Smith fan club members....maybe former players are saying nice things but I've seen him myself in adult settings and hes not a leader of young men - hes unprofessional and always is looking to make jokes at the expense of others....
Dear Sarcastic Sword,
I would really like to know just what it is that you have against Rick Smith besides your comments that he is "unprofessional" and "nothing but comedic relief."
You claim he is a bad coach, but you don't even know what position he coached. Then you comment about how FORMER players said nice things about him...think about what you said - 'former' is the operative word here...former players are not obligated to have any sort of loyalty one way or the other to a coach from their past. Yet, these kids are going out of their way to make comments and let it be known that they like him and that he made a positive impact on their life.
As a parent of a former player of his, I can tell you that he was never unprofessional in my presence or in the presence of my son. As a matter of fact, it was actually quite the opposite. He genuinely cared about those boys and he made the game fun for them. (I guess for you that should be prohibited, since you comment negatively on Rick's ability to provide 'comedic relief.') Sports aren't fun for kids anymore. Those kids wanted to go to football practice because they knew he would be there and they would have fun. It made a difference to them - in a good way.
I think he should be commended for how much he cares about the kids. He helped my son get a scholarship. Yes, you read that right. HE did. No one else would even return my calls when I needed help with tapes and recommendation letters and other information.
I feel I have a right to say these things because his actions directly AFFECTED my life. How about you Sarcastic Sword? You say "I will not sling dirt here" [4/7, 12:34 PM] - yet you are MORE than willing to SLANDER him and make negative comments. You are MORE than willing to comment about how he has a relative on the school board. AND? What's the point there? That relative can't even vote for him, so what does it matter? You say he has been "unprofessional" in 'adult settings' and you have seen it. Are you talking about at a social gathering? The key word there is SOCIAL - as in the opposite of professional.
Seems to me, Sarcastic Sword, that you need to practice what you preach and stop slinging mud. You sound like a jealous classmate or a disgruntled opponent.
And quite honestly, it's you who is being unprofessional.
@Ringgold Ram Parent....
Im glad Rick Smith helped your son. You have every right to defend him...Doesnt mean that what I'm saying is wrong..... I never said he had no redeeming qualities and was a horrible person- I just said Ive seen him and how he conducts himself is not how I think a head coach should be behaving....One of the situations Im referring to is a setting in which his players were present and he was not a leader of young men...He was acting like he was one of them, like how a teenager would behave but hes not a teenager - he should be acting like the adult...The kids like him because he acts like them - joking and goofing around.....And thats OK for a position coach - but in my opinion, a head coach cant act in this manner...
Slander - that is an oral defamation - as in speaking....Libel is a written defamation which can be proven to be false..Im assuming you mean to say I committed libel towards him but since I am saying something that I saw with my own eyes, thats not libel...Libel is something that is false and can be proven as such....
Regarding his father on the school board - yes, I understand that his Dad cannot vote on a matter like this but he certainly could exert influence on his fellow board members couldnt he - such as behind closed doors...this has been a long-standing tradition in this district - nepotism..
Just curious - why wouldnt Lloyd Price retain him on his staff? If he has so much to offer, wouldnt it have been a no-brainer to add someone like Smith to help coach and mentor these players? Price retained other members of Petrucci's staff...
I hear Luke Smith wants the job.
All this talk about Luke Smith, Rick Smith, and Lloyd Price. The Lloyd Price era is over whether he was liked or disliked. I heard there were about fifty applicants with a couple of Ringgold grads who will get a look, and I also heard Phil Pergola applied. I think he's had his shot at Ringgold and left them. Why wouldn't he do the same again when a better opportunity knocks?
So when exactly is the real story behind the resignation gonna come out? Everyone keeps saying things like "Brace Yourself" so I think if it is that bad members of the Community have a right to know what was going on inside the wall that were built with our money.. I may not have children in school anymore but I want to know what happened because it was my tax dollars that paid his salary and for everything else. I am outraged that this is being swept under the rug. I want to know and I want to know now.
I agree. If Phil Pergola is a possible candidate, we need new blood. Phil was a pretty good basketball coach and he had his chance at Ringgold. This is a time for new blood. This is a time for someone who can revitalize the whole program, not just football. New blood is neede to give the athletic department a shot in the arm.
Pergola was never an AD at Ringgold, just a very successful basketball coach. He currently is the AD at Cal High and a very good one. Rick Smith is too obnoxious and overbearing to be a true leader. I agree with Sac. Sword that he is liked simply because he acts like "one of the boys". It is very obvious that the majority of you have no idea what is takes to lead a football program. Knowledge of the game is just a minuscule part of the job. The Cal U coach is also a recycle because he coached there with Venick and Kuhns. But they were successful in their time there.
@ Sarcastic Sword:
I'm sorry, I still disagree. You say you saw Coach Smith in a situation where he was acting like a teenager. AND? I'm sorry, I still fail to see the point. Everyone needs to bring themselves down a level every once in a while. I'm sure that he was having fun with the kids and they were having fun with him. I don't understand how that would make him a poor head coach. The kids love and respect him, despite what you make think. They will play harder for him than for anyone else.
And yet I still demonstrate - that despite his "acting like a teenager" (as you refer to it) - he was still able to help my son get a scholarship. I'm guessing he was able to 'grow up' long enough to be a professional and take care of something very important to my family. If that's not a quality of someone who would be a good head coach - I'd hate to see what your standards are. Because - honestly...and I think we can all agree, that's something Ringgold's head coaches have been lacking lately.
I've seem him before in a situation where he was goofing off with the kids and I was glad to see that a coach of his caliber was able to loosen up a little and have some fun.
And I suppose his Dad could influence or speak to other board members, but so can anyone else.
And as for Lloyd Price not keeping him - I think we can all agree that Lloyd Price has made some HORRENDOUS decisions in his past, and not keeping Coach Smith was one of them. I wouldn't hang my hat on any decision that Lloyd Price ever made. He has no credibility with me.
The guy for the HC is Andy Johnson...The defensive coordinator for the loaded seniors-to-be group when they were undeafeated as freshmen. He then was the freshmen head coach the year after. The kids will play for him and he's very committed. With a vetern staff and vetern players, he will guide them to one or two post season W's.
Pergola would be a great fit at Ringgold. He would run the show the right way.
and the reason Lloyd did not retain Rick was personal. Lloyd and Rick don't get along. Wait til some of you fools find out why Golden Boy resigned.
As to all of you hiding behind the veil of "Anonymous" I would first like to say Ringgold and the football program has done nothing for me as a person. Lloyd Price was a negative person to some players, when we all know, football coaches are to be "beacons of light" to their players. To any of the accusations against him, we will all find out shortly what is really going on, then I would like to see the reactions of the people who got him that job, and see how well the chose their Athletic Director.
I really enjoyed reading the posts on how Rick Smith was/and is not a professional. Seeing that this man carries a full-time PROFESSIONAL job, how can you possibly make such remarks? You, yourself must not really no the man. He treated his players like they were his own sons. Yeah, practices may have been very comical, but when it came down to it, Rick had his players ready to go, and taught them the best technique they could attain on the field! So how is that for a professional basis on the field? Off the field, is often seen with his players out to eat, and even took some down to the Jerome Bettis show. What other coach has done this? Campos? No. Pettrucci? No. Price? If he could actually find a group of kids that liked him, maybe. Okay, so Rick has family members on the school board, but when it comes down to it, Rick wouldn't even need Chuck's help to get this job because he is a class act guy!
Shame on all of you for slinging dirt around without even stating all the right facts. And we call ourselves adults? You are the epitome of Ringgold Supporters, who probably talk down on these kids during the football season, but when it comes down to it, should be behind them 100% of the way supporting them and keeping their heads up. People make statements like "Whats wrong with the kids at Ringgold?' But then I ask myself, "What is wrong with the PARENTS of the kids at Ringgold?" It's posts like this that give me that answer...
Coach Rick Smith was the best coach I ever had at Ringgold. Russ Moore was a jerk. Steve Campos was a bigger jerk. Coach Petrucci was an ok coach but also a jerk. Lloyd Price divided the locker room, made his most talented guys want to quit, and that no-huddle offense was the most disgusting thing I've ever seen on a football field.
Rick has a full time job, he doesn't NEED to do this, but he wants to turn this program around. He actually cares about the kids. I have been out of high school for 2 years and I still talk to him. He is a good man and knows how to handle teenagers. He is the man to turn this all around finally.
To all of you parents throwing out names, stop. You are not the ones who will be busting your tails all summer, running and hitting in the dead heat of summer and into fall. Why not give the kids a leader they look up to and respect and actually like?
Ringgold has a sad track record in hiring coaches lately. What is the common quality in all of these previous coaches? They were all jerks who never had to full support of the community or team. Rick is not a jerk. I would hope that the school board recognizes this and makes the right choice.
Preach on Tyler, Preach on.
Being a High School Football coach is not about being anyone's friend. It is not about pleasing this person and that person. It is not about having a good time. This isn't Daycare. This isn't summer camp. This is football. Its all about Winning.
Rick Smith= Worst candidate
What timetable is the district using in hiring someone? Any idea of 'concrete' applicants? In other words, what applicants have officially applied?
oh and what would you know about being a high school football coach?
I find it funny as you read through different comments that it is easy to pick out which comments are posted by students/young adults and those posted by parents. A high school coach may not be a day care director but respect is needed. And there needs to be some type of humanity. Players now moan and complain about everything. Parents complain even more when their "little babies" don't see the time they think they should. You want a good football coach. Bring in someone who hires a staff and not parents. I do not know Rick Smith personally but since his name is being tossed around as a third party I would like to comment. No one really has thrown out any negatives about him, but that is not saying there is none. Rick Smith sounds like a tenured coach with some good backing. But for the rest of you remember a few things. As a coach you have to watch your back because fellow parents will not think twice about filing law suits. Ringgold is full of politics and if you want to last you have to play them.
No dog in this hunt, as they say, but with the lack of winning around Ringgold...why not clean house and hire an outsider? Not saying those mentioned would not be a competent coach, but a good sign of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. The district has a chance to hire a fresh, new AD/HC. Seems the way to go...
Scott Venick coaching staff was best Ringgold ever seen. Bring in somebody from Finleyville or Donora where they know how to play football
The thing with Ringgold is they will get a new HC and keep all of the assistants.
coach rick won't keep those bozos
I think Ringgold should implement a nepotism policy. (ie: no one related to the school board can be hired.) Most schools have this policy. According to Ringgold's policy a school board member is not allowed to vote when a relative is up for hire. But the damage is already done by this point. I wonder how many apathetic and incompentent employees Ringgold has employed due to nepotism. The same should be true of business done with the school board. I am fairly certain the district attempted to buy property from a school board member or relative of to build the middle school. Talk about conflict of interest. It is simple and common policy, I wish the board had the guts to pass that.
I wonder how many of the "anonymous" post's were actually Rick Smith writing them?
Chuck Smith can't vote or be a part of the process. So what is your point? Some of you are so simple.
The nepotism policy sounds good in theory, but it would never work. Just because someone is a relative of a board member doesn't mean they will get the job. Most people don't even like their relatives! And if you are going to put a no-relatives-get-hired policy in place, you better put a "no-friends" or "no-friends-of-friends" or "no-friends-of-relatives" policy in place as well. See? It's a small world and whether you like it or not, people around here are related to each other. I think it's actually a good thing that people in the area and their relatives stay close to the area and want to work here too. The school board gets elected because they know people and because people believe in them. If you don’t like the members of the board, run for office yourself and then never ever vote for another board member’s relative to get a job! I don’t know what else to tell you except that people constantly complaining about so-called-potential ‘nepotism’ is getting old. You are beating a dead horse. Get over it.
And as for the person who thinks that Rick Smith posted his own "Anonymous" comments - that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Grow up. No matter what you may think you know about Coach, or how much you think you know him – you obviously are extremely wrong. Coach Smith would tell you to your face whatever he thinks about you or any situation involving him – he doesn’t stay in the shadows. Call him and ask him yourself.
they replaced him with some random...why go with someone out of district?
Um... Ringgold has nothing to do with anything. Lloyd is an idiot and let Ringgold down BAD. He has been arrested for sexually assaulting a ten year old girl at Ringgold Elementary Center when he was a 5th grade teacher. Ringgold found out about his inappropriate sexual conduct with minors and young girls which is why Lloyd resigned out of embarrassment. Now a year later it all caught up to him. Ringgold has a great sports program that the staff and parents work very hard to maintain. He did last because he was out of control.
Post a Comment