Residents, boasting of all that John Dell'Olio has done for a community in which he resides and a school district in which he's worked for more than 20 years, demanded that school district administrators rehire the Garden City High School girls basketball coach.

Parents, even Dell'Olio's wife and son, spoke out at the Oct. 20 board of education meeting, defending the coach's credentials, which many feel have distinguished Dell'Olio as a reputable mentor. Although administrators and the school board listened to residents' comments, officials stated that they are, by law, unable to discuss personnel matters in public.

Thirty-year resident Ron True, who has had four children go through the Garden City school system, urged district administrators to re-examine their decision. "This is a man who has devoted time and energy to this program. He has had the opportunity to go elsewhere but denied it because of his commitment to Garden City," True said. "He deserves more loyalty from this community."

True also questioned why the district terminated Dell'Olio in the middle of the summer. "What is the purpose of firing a man in July? I'm curious as to why he'd be let go in such a fashion."

Further, True said, "When Mr. Dell'Olio pressed Nancy Kalafus [athletic director] as to why he was not returning as coach, Kalafus told him that the program was going in a different direction. Now I think it's fair to look at the direction that John Dell'Olio took that program over 23 years ... I've watched his teams play. He's even been honored as Long Island Coach of the Year."

Dell'Olio's wife Carol criticized the process. "When you do well, you get promoted. My husband got an excellent evaluation and was still fired ... You're going to kill the morale of the entire teaching community," she said.

Garden City School Board President Kenneth Monaghan, unable to provide many details of the situation, reminded residents that coaches are not offered tenure. Understanding that they are appointed on a yearly basis, Bill Garvey, who also had three of his children graduate from the Garden City school system and has another currently attending the high school, believes the district poorly handled the situation.

"For him to have walked in this past July and been told he'd probably not be reappointed was wrong and not the kind of thing this school district should be doing. Everyone makes mistakes and this mistake can be rectified," Garvey said.

Dell'Olio's son told administrators that letting his father go was not a question of policy but of morals and ethics. "Coaches put their life and blood into your students. I've watched my father," he said. "He was fired on July 1 for no apparent reason. This upsets me as an educator and as a human being."

Further challenging administrators and school board trustees to find anything wrong with what Dell'Olio has accomplished while working for the district, he said, "If this is how you treat the people who care about students, then why do it?"

At the meeting, it was stated that Dell'Olio has reapplied for the coaching position. Monaghan, however, assured residents that the position has not yet been filled.