Retired Gardena High Principal Kevin Kennedy Weighs in on the Hazing Allegations & Suspensions at St. Paul

We usually don’t get many letters to the editor in the sports department as most people blog their thoughts. However, the paper recently received a letter to the editor from former educator and one-time Gardena High principal Kevin Kennedy regarding the St. Paul hazing allegations and suspensions.

Kennedy has a few recommendations, one that even includes involving former St. John Bosco head coach Kiki Mendoza.

Here’s the letter:

Dear Editor,

If and only if the staff of St Paul’s Football program are found to be in violation of the school’s and the archdiocese directives on prohibition of initiation rites or hazing within the school football program, then the principal Ms. (Kate) Aceves will have very little option but to dismiss the staff.

While two members of the coaching staff are not implicated in the alleged malfeasance of duties, however, to keep the son of the head coach and one other assistant may not be in the best interest of all involved.

Therefore, the remainder of the season will be a disaster for all student-athletes and the subsequent fall out by some parents toward others and any perceptions by the remaining staff as to which parents of which student-athletes and which administrators are responsible for exposing the scandal. It will be very a negative environment… so on.

I would conclude that Principal Aceves must take decisive action and replace all the coaches and bring in a staff of ethical and competent coaches who will re-frame the program in a Catholic school football tradition as well as reestablish trust in the men who guide our young men in interscholastic athletics on the high school level.

One such coach who is above reproach in his ethical standards and knows how to teach and guide young men in a top-notch football program and is currently available and that is Kiki Mendoza, formerly the head coach of St. John Bosco High School. He will bring integrity and sound coaching to the St. Paul Program.

Kevin Kennedy
Retired Principal LAUSD
Father of a Former Bosco Student Athlete

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