UPDATE @ 4:45 p.m. (July 31): Lance Schneider, who has resigned as Northmont football coach amid a three-month investigation into his coaching methods, issued this statement following the release of his evaluation notes and emails:
“I have maintained my silence, for several months, as to the circumstances surrounding my departure from Northmont High School. However, now that the email that led to my departure has been released, there is no longer a reason for my silence. I made a mistake in judgment in a light-hearted and greatly exaggerated evaluation given exclusively to my coaching staff. The email was never intended for public dissemination and absolutely not intended for the athletes. I was frustrated at how the program was progressing, and wanted the coaches to get a grasp of who needed extra guidance to get them onboard with what needed to be done for us to have success. I used exaggerated and colorful language to make a point. I was wrong and apologize to the Northmont Community for not upholding the high values of the Northmont School District. I wish I had never sent the email and have paid a heavy price for my momentary lack of judgment. I have lost the job I love and have caused hardship for my family.
I assure everyone I respect all the young men who played for me. I never mistreated any player, parent, or coach during my tenure at Northmont. We had many very successful years and I had the pleasure of coaching some of the finest young men I have ever met, as well as coaching with some of the finest coaches. I believe all of us are better because of the times we shared together.”
UPDATE @ 11:30 p.m. (July 30)
“Douche bags,” “slapdicks” and “China dolls” are just some of the words Northmont City Schools’ former head football coach used to describe some of his players.
These names were listed in Lance Schneider’s player evaluation notes included in an email dated March 6, 2015, that was sent out to other Northmont High School coaches.
The March email was a part of the documents that were the focus of the school district’s internal investigation against Schneider that were released to this newsroom late Thursday as a result of a public records request. The three-month investigation resulted in Schneider announcing he was leaving his positions as head football coach and as a high school physical education teacher. Schneider’s May 19 resignation letter stated that his resignation would be effective July 31.
Tony Broering was promoted to Northmont’s interim head coach this spring. He previously held the positions of offensive and defensive coordinator for the Thunderbolts.
Schneider was placed on paid administrative leave on March 24. His ordered leave came 19 days after someone submitted an anonymous statement to Superintendent Sarah Zatik and other district officials.
The anonymous writer told the school officials, “As a dedicated coach and educator in this school district I found Mr. Schneider’s emails to be inappropriate as well as insulting.” The writer then shared a copy of Schneider’s March 6 email that lists his players in categories that included the headings Defiant/Disinterested kids, Douche bags, Slapdicks, Too absent to count on, China Dolls (too soft), Zeroes for both attendance periods (DO NOT Count on Me).
Schneider stated in the March 6 email that he had been compiling these observations throughout the second semester off-season.
Schneider referred to the players listed under Defiant/Disinterested kids as being “cancerous tumors whom need to be eradicated for us to have any chance at success …”
Schneider criticized the players listed under the China Dolls (too soft) category by stating, “these kids ALWAYS have an injury and use it as an excuse as long as they possibly can.”
Schneider said of one player, “Weak, unathletic and unreliable are no way to go through life son. At least be fat, drunk and stupid, it would be more fun.” He then goes on to state that this player came from the same family tree as Side Show Bob, “which immediately places him in the ‘can’t play’ category.”
Schneider said that the drills of two players reminded him of “pre-pubescent girls having a pillow fight at a slumber party.”
The former coach also called a parent a name.
EARLIER REPORT (June 6)
Northmont City Schools announced today that it has accepted the resignation of its football coach.
Lance Schneider had been on leave since late March while the district investigated an “internal complaint,” according to Superintendent Sarah Zatik.
“The complaint concerned alleged unprofessional comments made by Mr. Schneider,” Zatik said in an email.
He had submitted a physician’s note to be on medical leave during the investigation, she said.
His resignation “effectively ends” the district’s investigation, Zatik said.
“The District is satisfied to have reached a resolution that protects the integrity of the district and our students,” she said in the email.
Schneider had been the head football coach at Northmont for 16 years.
