- UPDATED (3:37 p.m. Oct. 6): Comments from Lincoln-Way East spokeswoman.
- UPDATED (4:28 p.m. Oct. 6): With career highlights for Brian Papa.
Brian Papa has been fired as boys soccer head coach at Lincoln-Way East High School.
"The district wanted to go in a different direction in the East soccer program," said Charla Brautigam, assistant director of community relations for Lincoln-Way High School District 210.
The firing comes after Papa allegedly made a comment about an opposing player after a Sept. 27 loss against Lincoln-Way Central High School,according to a story in the Chicago Tribune.
However, Brautigam said the decision to let go of Papa midseason had to do with the team and performance.
"(School officials) were trying to give the kids an opportunity to succeed, and they've been struggling," she said. The Griffins currently have a losing season.
The decision to fire Papa involved L-W East Principal Scott Tingley, athletics director Dave Brost and district central office administration, Brautigam added.
Assistant coach Ryan Decker will continue the rest of the season as interim head coach. The team plays at Sandburg High School on Thursday.
Papa met with players on the boys soccer team recently and told them he was taking a personal leave from coaching, Brautigam said.
Along with coaching boys soccer, Papa also was the girls soccer coach and a physical education teacher at East. Brautigam said Papa will continue teaching, and any decision on his role as the girls coach will wait until the district begins to focus on spring sports.
Papa has led L-W to two second-place finishes--2000-01 (26-1) and 1999-00 (26-3)--in the Class AA boys state soccer tournament. He coached an undefeated Sandburg team to a Class AA boys state tile in 1993-94. Under Papa, the L-W girls soccer team twice finished second in the state tournament in 1998-99 and 1999-00.
In This article
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Lincoln-Way East High School
201 Colorado Ave, Frankfort, IL -
Lincoln-Way Central High School
1801 E Lincoln Hwy, New Lenox, IL -
Carl Sandburg High School
13300 S la Grange Rd, Orland Park, IL
john bruno
1:39 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011
Can't imagine what he said that could have gotten him fired.
Why don't they fire the incompetent coaches, like the varsity basketball and varsity baseball coaches?
When does Durst retire?
john bruno
1:50 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011
Should be "....Brost....retire" above.
john bruno
1:42 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011
Just read the article in the Tribune.
Why don't they fire the varsity football, basketball and baseball coaches at Central, too.
The teams have all sucked for the past 10 years.
kathy
1:54 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011
there is nothing wrong with the varsity basketball coaches.
john bruno
2:03 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011
Interesting that you should say that, Kathy.
They've had losing records at Central in football, basketball and baseball for many years.
Lousy record in basketball at East.....Winning record in baseball, but they are a mature program with very good players and they should be on the verge of winning the State title each year for the past 4 years. However, the Phoenix will win it all next spring.
Patrick
2:28 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011
The varsity Basketball coach should have been fired years ago. Not just for his lack of results but for the things he says to the boys.
Wally
5:14 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011
John- You talk about a lousy record in basketball at East. Do you understand the competition they play isn't exactly a cake walk? When you play Lockport twice a year, Sandburg twice a year, H-F twice a year, Andrew, along with the Joliet schools, and your sectional is loaded with teams like the 3 previously mentioned, along with Thornton, Crete-Monee, Bloom, Thornwood, Plainfield North and South, and so on, it's tough.
Also, when you have a successful football program that has never missed the playoffs, they've had kids who play football that are also key pieces of the basketball team. This year you're going to have 3 starters, all seniors, that will miss the start of basketball because of football, and then they have to get in basketball shape.
The Lincoln-Way's are not a basketball powerhouse, never will be. Haven't been sectional or super-sectional good since the days of Augie and Menard. This area will always be a football area.
Just for the record...out of 22 teams in the sectional last season, East received the #7 seed because of their record and the teams they beat, but ran into the top-seeded Wildcats of Thornton, so they haven't been so bad that the head coach should be fired.
john bruno
2:05 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011
Just take a look at some of the basketball scores at Central last year?
Or football for the past few years.
Gees....do you go to the game or read about them?
Rebecca Wharrie
2:54 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011
I don't know what Coach Papa said that cost him his job, but I know he was a good coach and well liked by his players. This is sad news; he will be missed.
Bee Bee
10:39 am on Thursday, October 13, 2011
I agree with you Rebecca, this firing will have a negative impact on the school, on the sport and on the community. This firing was not well thought out and I don't agree that the athletic office or school board has dealt with this appropriately. Brian Papa will be missed.
SoccerDad
3:46 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011
The fact of the matter is he should have left East long ago. He has berated his players for the past 5 years and screaming and shouting and swearing at the kids no longer works. While his overall coaching record is outstanding, his record at East is barely above .500.
Kids are better trained today than they were 20 years ago but he never seemed to try and build a team from all that talent, he showcased a player or two so he could say he got them a college deal.
Time for a coach who can demonstate a positive attitude.
I do wish him all the luck in his future endeavors.
beamer
10:11 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011
"The district wanted to go in a different direction" is Thomas Eddy bull s#^t propoganda for firing someone and not copping to the real reason!!!
RLT
6:42 am on Friday, October 7, 2011
I question why LW needs an Assistant Director of Community Relations (are there multiple "assistants"?), or why they even need a Director of Community Relations? Too many administrators, too many coaches, too many tax dollars wasted, even before considering the tremendous pension csts..
Mike
10:47 am on Friday, October 7, 2011
The problem with LWC is not the coaches. LW has 4 schools and they should have 3. The reason for this is the Supt and the rubber stamp Board, not the coaches.
Joe Vince
12:34 pm on Friday, October 7, 2011
Don't forget to weigh in on the firing with our online poll: http://frankfort.patch.com/articles/poll-should-brian-papa-have-been-fired
David H
12:18 am on Saturday, October 8, 2011
Correct me if i am wrong, and this has nothing to do with the coaches but wasn't the 4th campus built when there was a housing boom going in the area and 600 homes were to be built over a 2 year period. Also, since the 4th school houses 1,200+ students and each of the other campuses are 2,200+ students, wouldn't there be overcrowding at Central with 3,400+ students. I am a Lincoln-Way graduate and I remember classes being 28 students in size. I feel that was reasonable, but if there were 3,400 students the sizes would be around 38+ per class. How would that be good for educating our students. Last thought, hindsight is 20/20. What would we be discussing if the boom did not end and every campus was 3,400 students. We would be no better off than Lockport. This is my 2 cents worth.
Mike
8:44 am on Saturday, October 8, 2011
Even with the housing boom only schools would have sufficed. That's the problem with governmental intities, spend money on things you either don't need or many can get along without. The LW district is running at about 60% capacity.
David H
12:26 am on Monday, October 10, 2011
Is that 60% now or before the new school?
Mike
9:50 am on Tuesday, October 11, 2011
David H I am writing a note on Patch about the LW enrollments. It will under school news.
Tom Lewis
9:16 am on Saturday, October 8, 2011
When I came to Lincoln-Way in '68, we were 17-11 in BB. I was fired. L-W was known as a death bed for coaches. I certainly hope they are not becoming that again. I don't know what Mr. Papa said, it had to have been something VERY bad for him to get fired. I have always had a lot of respect for Mr. Papa. There has to be something else going on here.
RMU
11:58 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
Papa has been a great promoter of the soccer players. He has always worked hard to help the students who wanted to play in college. Shouldn't it really be about the student athlets!!!! Papa should be able to continue to coach, but district politics always seems to get in thw way. I am so saddened to we don't think "KIDS FIRST"
Nicki Serbin
9:41 pm on Sunday, March 18, 2012
As a former female player of his from the beginning of his LW career, I feel compelled to comment. He was an awful coach! He constantly screamed at us, girls were crying all the time, he made me hate the sport, and he did not know that much.... The guy admitted, he never even played! He is a potato shaped man that is just good at scaring teenagers.