High school football coach and athletic director Eric Hernandez of Brooks Academy in San Antonio has been dismissed mid-season without any public explanation. His sudden departure was met with widespread discontent by students and parents alike, as Hernandez was generally well-liked and has had a successful run as athletic director at the academy.
On Monday after the coachās dismissal, more than a hundred disgruntled students from the science and technology campus walked out of classes to gather on the lawn. The purpose of their peaceful protest was two-fold: the students want to hear the reasoning that led to the forced departure of a popular coach, or they want him to be allowed to return.
High school football coach and athletic director Eric Hernandez of Brooks Academy in San Antonio has been dismissed mid-season without any public explanation. His sudden departure was met with widespread discontent by students and parents alike, as Hernandez was generally well-liked and has had a successful run as athletic director at the academy.
On Monday after the coachās dismissal, more than a hundred disgruntled students from the science and technology campus walked out of classes to gather on the lawn. The purpose of their peaceful protest was two-fold: the students want to hear the reasoning that led to the forced departure of a popular coach, or they want him to be allowed to return.
The studentsā actions elicited general support from the community, where parents are also upset by being left in the dark. Betsy Rosado, a parent from San Antonio, was reported on USA Today saying, āThis coach is amazing. Heās done so much for our kids, and for the school to let him go, Iām not for it. And thatās why I support what these kids are doing. This athletic program is whatās helping this school get bigger. Our enrollment, itās everything. And if youāre going to go and take the coaches off, whatās going to happen to the school?ā
In response to the protest, the administration at Brooks Academy said only that now is not an appropriate time to discuss the details of Hernandezā departure, and that more information will be released in time. The administration then urged students to keep focused on their education, an answer that was judged unsatisfactory by most.
