HS Softball Coach Suspended Over Social Post Criticizing School's Field Lighting Plans

A high school softball coach in Illinois has been suspended without pay after he criticized the school's field lighting plans in a post on social media. 

According to Muddy River Sports, Quincy HIgh School softball coach Darrell Henze was informed of the decision Lisa Otten, the director of personnel for the Quincy Public Schools, who explained that Henze was being suspended for his post on X in response to learning the lights on both the QHS baseball and softball fields were being taken down immediately and would be replaced in the coming months.

“Due to lack of foresight, deception, and improper planning, QHS Softball and Baseball will be without lights this season with no real plan as to when lights will be reinstalled," Henze wrote on X. 

Henze alleges that a plan was made last September to replace the lights if they were deemed unsafe by playing standards and health life safety bonds were being used to purchase and install new lights. Neither the baseball field nor the softball field is expected to have lights for the spring season.

QHS athletic director Kristina Klingele said the athletic department is working on a solution so all baseball and softball varsity and junior varsity teams will not have any games impacted by the lighting situation. 

Henze has been asked by school administrators to delete his post. 

Reached by phone Thursday afternoon after his social media post went public, Henze said the lack of lights severely curtails moving the softball program forward. 

“We have to be able to play JV innings,” Henze said. “It’s going to be tough enough for us to get a varsity game in without lights.”