Former Muir coach gets meeting with PUSD officials
Figuring the Michael Knowles story published in today's paper is the No.1 Most Viewed and No. 1 Most Emailed story on the Star-News website, I thought I'd post the story here, too. Chime in fellas...
By Miguel A. Melendez
Staff Writer
The compass didn't move in any direction after Michael Knowles' hour-plus meeting with two Pasadena Unified School District officials Friday, and for now Knowles will continue playing the waiting game.
The former Muir track and field coach was fired two months ago and never was given a clear reason for his dismissal after 28 years in some capacity or another as the school's track coach.
Knowles met with Shelly James, the district's chief of human resources, and Steve Miller, the director of human resources.
Knowles initially requested a meeting with PUSD superintendent Edwin Diaz, but was told the right channel to go through was James.
According to Knowles, James and Miller were sympathetic to his situation, took a lot of notes and asked a lot of questions.
In that meeting, Knowles asked what led to his dismissal but was not given one.
"(James) said she has to check with (Muir High principal Sheryl) Orange and (Muir High vice principal) Dr. Charles Park to find out," Knowles said. "They didn't say why and they couldn't tell me why. I guess they have to get the information from Park and Orange."
Knowles took notice in James and Miller's genuine interest in hearing his side of the story.
"To me it sounded productive, but I don't know if anything will come out of it," Knowles said. "(James) said she's going to investigate and look into it and that they would get back to me."
Knowles was encouraged by Miller and James to re-apply for the job and they see his passion for the program and the kids.
"That's not an option for me because I have not been given clarity why I was fired," Knowles said. "I'm the only walk-on coach who has been asked to re-apply.
"To me it sounds personal."
During this two-month saga, other schools have shown interest in possibly hiring Knowles and continually ask about his status within the school and school district.
But Knowles is adamant about staying with the program he helped build into a powerhouse, and informed Miller and James he would accept reinstatement. But re-applying would be out of the question.
"The final decision is going to come down to Dr. park and Mrs. Orange," Knowles said, "and then we're back to square one.
"At this point the program is on life support and the plug could be pulled. It's going to be virtually impossible - even for me - to go in there and get things going. I explained to (James) how late it was in the season for myself to put the program together this late in the season and even more for a new person to come in, it'll basically be impossible."
miguel.melendez@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4485
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
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Dear ann! Your talking like winning leauge is not mandatory for muir? Duh who hasn't done that and he's won cif titles in div 3 not d1 its not his fault they got moved down but there is no one in div 3. To add to the girls he had to girls that got d1 scolarships they left 2 years ago! Hmmmmmmm they haven't won league since then even when there were ther ANN! So like marvin gaye what's going on?
Stang for life if you knew about Muir track than you woyld know under coach knowles muir girls have won 3 cif titles since brownfield retired and 2 runner ups and that is in the 2000s thats three titles and 2 runner ups 5 out of 8 years and the boys Clyde tunner left in 1997 and knowles has had the boys since 2002 and has won 3 league titles for the boys and one runner up he may not be as hard on the kids as he should be but he was doing somthing right!!! stang for life do your reserch before you start making remarks on the muir track program.
Stang 4 life,
If that is the case and I don't disagree, then be a man or woman about it and tell him why they let him go and move on. The PUSD and the Muir administration should stop being cowards and just tell him why. Why is it they won't be honest? Coaches are from year to year and principals are not obligated to continue with a coach the next year. In other words if Muir does not hire Knowles for the next year he has no recourse. So why not be honest if you’re not a coward? I guess being a coward is the PUSD way, but I'm just say'in.
I hate to see them fire coach knowles like that because he does love the kids but let's be honest!! He has no control of the program the kids tell him what to do. He trying to run the boys and girls program at the same time witch is way to much the boys haven't won a thing!! This since he has been at head and the girls haven't either. The girls had some talent when profit and williams were there but they were a great talent before muir, so can take the cred for that and before that brownfeild was the man he has the state titles not knowles and everybody knows CLYDE TURNER coached the boys to all the cif, state, and natinal titles just to keep it real!!! Ask anybody who knows about the real muir program.
I hate to see them fire coach knowles like that because he does love the kids but let's be honest!! He has no control of the program the kids tell him what to do. He trying to run the boys and girls program at the same time witch is way to much the boys haven't won a thing!! This since he has been at head and the girls haven't either. The girls had some talent when profit and williams were there but they were a great talent before muir, so can take the cred for that and before that brownfeild was the man he has the state titles not knowles and everybody knows CLYDE TURNER coached the boys to all the cif, state, and natinal titles just to keep it real!!! Ask anybody who knows about the real muir program.
If the comment below was truly from Coach Knowles....
best of luck to you.
My question is.....if the 2 HR reps KNEW they were meeting with Coach Knowles....why would they not have information in front of them regarding his termination?
On the other side though, at least they were willing to take an interest and hear out Coach Knowles.
Thanks every one for all the support but you are right I am moving on and wishing the great kids I coached good luck this year my last job is to get my seniors Lindsay Cooper-Chris Dunlap-and Tramell Clipper signed sealed and College scholarships Cooper will be signing with UNLV tomorrow and Chris and Tramell are looking at a few schools and will be siging later this season! great job Lady and Gentelmen good luck this year coach Mike!!
On the real, I hope Coach Knowles is given his position back. He coached me for a bit along with James McAlister, Chris Mc Alister Dad, and he was a great coach that knew what he was talking about. I ran with his daughters Jennifer & Deanna & trained with his son Michael.
A side note, Chris McAlister use to rip it on the track, but I think it was all for football.... I wonder if the Ravens will let him go. Looks like it.
Stang 03,
I can confirm that is obea moore & Michael Granville (former ucla great) behind him. I ran against Obea as a kid & High school. He ran for the LA jets and I ran for the pasadena running roses with Sultan Mc Cullough & others. I was coached by Roger E Mosley from Magnum PI. Obea was the greatest track star the high school level has ever seen. I remember being at the arcadia invite & the entire crowd of 5000+ chanting is name so loud that you could hear it has as far as the 210. In his career, he ran a sub 10.5 -100m, sub 21.0- 200, sub 46 -400m, sub 1:50- 800m & sub 4:20 mile just for a work out....amazing. In the 1996 Olympic trials he placed 6 overall in the nation at age 15 and later won the junior world title in chile that summer in the 400m. At a CIF or state title 4 x 4 race he ran a 44.6 or something like that and caught a dude that was a good 40 meters ahead of him. That was probably the greatest leg I have ever seen anyone run in track in field history.
This may be sick but he beat me one time by 60 meters in the 400m when i was a junior and he was a freshman. I actually have it on tape. He ran a national leading time of 46 flat in that race. I still finished in a great time of 52, but 2 other muir guys finished ahead of me w/ sub 50's which was freakin unbelieveable. 52 secs would probably get me a league title or get me into CIF these days.
hey knowles come over to tc baby! ahah.
tough call for knowles, pretty stupid of the admin to ask him to reapply. I hope Knowles has the admin kiss his shoes and beg for his forgiveness, you don't ask a man of his stature to reapply.
i'm digging the fro too by the way.
That is obea More and Michael Granvill right behind him at the Cif Masters Obea was a soph that year
thats not Obea. It doens't look like him at all... Thats 80's. has to be with the fro... Obea had braids...
I'm just say'in, You give good advice. Knowles should just let it rest. At this point hiring him back solves nothing. Unfortunately we will never know the entire story. However don't be too hard on the admin. PUSD has suffered from many years of neglect but the present administration is fighting a tough uphill battle. Educating our kids is a job for all of us. Imagine being a high school dropout today. The prospects for success are two; slim and none, and slim is extremely malnourished.
That is Obea More Muir great while in HS never did anything after he left muir but had many state titles while at muir!
fourth one back looks like Byron Scott with a farmer's tan
Knowles, dude if you don’t want more stress leave it alone. You are dealing with the PUSD and as you have found out they could careless about you or what you’ve accomplished with these students. You will NEVER get a satisfactory answer for your dismissal. Please don’t bank on Mr. Miller being fair, he is one of the biggest jokes in the PUSD with plenty of baggage from Marshall where he was principal. You will get your meetings; you will eventually meet with Diaz if you want one. Believe me nothing is going to change and when you understand your dealing with some of the biggest snakes/cowards known to man maybe you can move on. You have brought attention to this situation and the PUSD hates to be in the spotlight because they have so much to hide. So even if you do reapply you’re not getting the job. Reapplying only gives the PUSD an opportunity to hire someone they feel has better qualification on paper and that’s all they will point to. It doesn’t matter what’s best for the student, you have made PUSD look bad so get ready to pay even more than you already have.
Is that Carlton(Fresh Prince) in a Muir jersey?