Middie Basketball Coach Resigns

Immediate Release   Middie Basketball Coach Resigns

 

Middletown City Schools athletic director Gary Lebo has announced the resignation of Middletown High School’s head basketball coach Bob Ronai after eight seasons. 

 

Ronai made the announcement to the Middie Basketball team after school today.

 

“Ronai’s sportsmanship, enthusiasm for the game and concern for his players will be missed,” said Middletown High School Principal Dennis Newell.

 

During Ronai’s seven seasons, his teams posted a 97-79 record, with the best record being an 18-5 mark during the 2010-11 season.

 

With 34 years of head coaching experience at both the college and high school level, Ronai promoted the importance of community service to his teams. According to Lebo, Middie men’s basketball participated in community volunteer activities like reading with elementary school students, and White-Out for Cancer, which raised $1,000 for the cause. 

 

“We certainly appreciate everything Bob has done for Middie Basketball, this school system and the community,” Lebo said. “We wish the best for Bob and his family.”

 

 

 

Debbie Alberico

Community Relations / Communication

1515 Girard Ave.

Middletown, OH 45044

513-217-2625

Vet, Before you start the spinning wheel up, there is something you need to know. I know Bob pretty well and he keeps his private life pretty quite. He has a daughter in law that is fighting cancer. I think that he may be retiring to go and help his son with the grand kids. Thats just my opinion. If that is the case I fully understand and support his decision. My daughter in law has been fighting it for 5 years. It can change your focus on life.

OK- just finished reading the Journal article about Ronai. As I suggested in my previous post.....

"Ronai, who admitted he had been considering not returning next season, said he was told by Athletic Director Gary Lebo Wednesday that the administration WANTED TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION"

"Lebo had no comment when asked what direction the administration wanted to go in".

And, as Smartman alluded....

"There is no way I could have done the program the way I wanted with all the family commitments I have right now,” he continued.

Sounds like Ronai left because he had family commitments and because Lebo and company wanted him out (but couldn't give a PUBLIC response as to why they wanted him out) Typical.

I heard yesterday that Coach Ronai was called in after classes by the principal(Mr.Newell) and the AD(Mr.Lebo) and given the opportunity to either rsign or be terminated. The phrase "We want to go in a different direction" was allegedly used. No surprise since a reason had to be provided.

I can't imagine that Newell and Lebo are empowered to make that kind of decision on their own, chances are someone above them on the totem pole knew about this before it happened.

It seems like we have a very "hands off" school board. This is not necessarily a bad thing, the opposite of too much meddling in day-to-day stuff would be even worse. But sometimes it seems like the hands off approach is to a fault. There's a difference between allowing the system to work without interruption from the board and refusing to step in when it is obvious that something needs done about a situation.

One doesn't have to look too far past Dr. Price to understand the concept. He was allowed to run this district into the ground, unchecked, for years before the board finally took some action. Thankfully they did, unfortunately it was just a few years too late and the damage done will take exponentially longer to undo. I would like to say that it appears the BOE learned their lesson from that debacle but when I see some of the other situations that are damaging to the education provided to our city's kids continue to linger year in and year out, I have to wonder if they've forgotten that lesson?

Ok, surprise, surprise! We have a conflict on the way the boys basketball coach was chosen. Today's Journal.....

"Middletown boys basketball coach selection process debated"

"those responsible for interviewing the three candidates last week and listing their strengths and weaknesses — are questioning the hiring process.

Don “Woody” Withrow, a member of the committee and of the school’s elite Gold Medal Club, said hiring Andrews was “rigged” because the decision was made before the interviews took place last week.

“It was not done the right way,” said Withrow, who noted he didn’t know Andrews was a candidate until he walked into the room".

"After the three candidates were interviewed last week in the school’s Media Center, Withrow said he wanted every committee member to rank the candidates. When Withrow voiced his opinion — Miller his top choice, followed by Cupps and Andrews — Lebo told him: “We’re not doing that,” according to Withrow".

"At least two other committee members, Ken Cohen, president of Cohen Brothers, and Lynn Darbyshire, have said Miller was their top choice, while others wanted Andrews"

HOW DARE THEY QUESTION KENNY COHEN (A MAINEVILLE RESIDENT), ONE OF THE MMF'ers AND ONE OF THE KINGPINS CALLING THE SHOTS IN THIS TOWN!




Here's the clincher.......

Following the interviews, Lebo said the committee listed the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate and he met with Superintendent Greg Rasmussen and MHS Principal Dennis Newell. The three decided to offer the job to Andrews, Lebo said.

NOW, IF NEWELL, LEBO AND RASMUSSEN MADE THE CALL ON WHO WAS HIRED, AND THE COACH THEY SELECTED WAS NOT THE FIRST CHOICE OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE, WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF GOING THROUGH THE SELECTION COMMITTEE PROCESS FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE? KINDA OF AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY WASN'T IT?

This whole thing, with the way Ronai was shown the door and the explanation given, and now, the selection by three people who were not on the selection committee just seems to have a sour smell to it doesn't it? Kinda secretive and behind the back in a way. Hey! Just like city hall operates!

One blogger, Butch Carter, a member of Middletown’s sports hall of fame and a former high school and NBA coach, fully supported Miller. The two of them coached together at the University of Dayton.

Carter called Miller “the best man for the job hands down.” Carter was critical of Lebo and the administration for not calling him for a reference on Miller.

“This was a process set up not to hire the best person, but to underachieve again. So instead of bringing value to the whole community, we again decided it would only be for a few!”

Read that last line again.....

SO INSTEAD OF BRINGING VALUE TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, WE AGAIN DECIDE IT WOULD ONLY BE FOR A FEW........

SOUND FAMILIAR WITH REGARD TO THE WAY THE WHOLE TOWN IS RUN?

Miller had the recommendations from Middletown legend Jerry Lucas, and college coaches John Calipari, Bob Huggins, Mick Cronin and Herb Sendek.

PRETTY PERSUASIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE LISTED HERE FOR MILLER"S RECOMMENDATION.

Since Lebo has become athletic director, there seems to be some incidences that have occured that warrant questioning his intentions toward directing Middletown's athletic programs. Is he just a puppet and doing what he is told to do for the inner circle controlling things here?

I sure hope the journal called Butch Carter to verify that he is indeed the one posting on Yappi.  Anyone(Darby, Cohen, Woody, etc) could execute an account under the name "butchc" on that website and post their thoughts on this hiring.

Looks like Mr.Ronai has taken full advantage of the MHS admin's decision to take the bball program in another direction. He has altready taken a position as AD at Toledo St.John, a very prestigeous school and traditionnaly strong program. Seems that his local accomplishment was favorably noticed elsewhere. All the best to him.  Didn't read about it in the MJ, did we? hmmm.......

Let it go, Vet

Vet---I don't know why Mr.Lebo wrote the letter now, it really served no purpose or broke new ground.