Icon viewers:
The news this week of the resignation of Coach White has prompted me to write this letter. I am sad and somewhat angered that Ada athletics have gotten to this point.  

My family, in one way or another, has been involved in Ada athletics since the late 1970s.  This has included myself, my siblings, my children, nieces and nephews and now my grandchildren. Our family has participated in football, basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer, volleyball, softball, track, cheerleading and even a bit of coaching at Ada.  

So it is easy to see and say that we care a great deal about Ada athletics.

When I hear of and see Ada athletes not wanting to participate, seasons being
cancelled, coaches stepping down and families willing to leave the school district so their athletes can compete elsewhere, I have to ask why? I don’t know all the reasons, but I am sure of one thing. This has to be owned by the administration.

These kind of things should never be happening in a school that has put
appropriate emphasis on athletics and its place in the overall educational
experience.  

When the support of the athletes and the coaches is occurring as it should be, teams are competitive, the experience is positive, no one is leaving and even more kids are wanting to be a part of it all.  

It is in that positive environment that the life-long benefits attained from athletic competition are instilled in these young athletes: things like leadership, ethics, integrity, teamwork, self-discipline, self-confidence, determination, coping skills and fitness.

As a matter of fact, the positive athletic environment affects the entire community. The talk on the street turns to the great plays being made and how well the kids played. There is a sense of pride that everyone feels.

Oh, I know there will always be some complaining about this or that, but we are way past that. What we are experiencing now is a systemic issue that has to be addressed.  

I hope our administration can do the right thing.  Our student athletes deserve it.
Brian Young
Concerned supporter of Ada athletics