Teutopolis fires boys basketball coach

Fehrenbacher
Tyler Dixon
Daily News | Posted: Monday, April 13, 2015 10:54 pm
TEUTOPOLIS The Teutopolis School Board fired head boys basketball coach
Andy Fehrenbacher at its meeting on Monday.
Fehrenbacher was dismissed from his coaching position in a 6-1 vote by the
school board.
This had nothing to do with wins or losses, Superintendent Bill Fritcher said
after the meeting.
Fehrenbacher walked into the meeting before 6:30 p.m. with several current and a
former Wooden Shoes coach. Girls basketball coach Laurie Thompson, along with
baseball coach Justin Fleener and basketball assistant coach Troy Bierman,
accompanied Fehrenbacher into the meeting. Former Teutopolis coach Ken
Crawford also walked into the meeting with Fehrenbacher.
The lone school board member that voted against Fehrenbacher's dismissal was
Dan Burke, who left immediately following the meeting. Leah Passalacqua made
the motion and Jim Buhnerkempe seconded the motion to dismiss Fehrenbacher,
who declined comment after the vote.
The meeting opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then quickly
went into executive session. The people that walked into the meeting with
Fehrenbacher had an opportunity to speak in his behalf to the board members in
the closed session.
The board went into closed session at 6:33 p.m. that lasted for a litte more than
three hours.
All the coaches that walked into the meeting with Fehrenbacher went into
executive session to speak on Fehrenbachers behalf. They returned at 8:51 p.m.
Fehrenbacher and the board remained in closed session.
Board president Gene Niemerg said before the board went into closed session, that
there would be a change to the agenda in which the public was able to speak for or
against Fehrenbacher after the board came out of executive season.

After the members came out of closed session, they gave members of the audience
a chance to speak. All of those who spoke did so on Fehrenbacher's behalf.
Blake Thoele, a 2011 graduate of Teutopolis High School, tore his ACL during his
senior season. Thoele said Fehrenbacher let him start his senior night and when he
walked off the court, Fehrenbacher was waiting with open arms and tears in his
eyes.
There wasn't anyone there supporting me as much as coach Fehrenbacher, he
said.
Todd Thoele said everyone in the meeting was there to support Fehrenbacher.
If people had a problem, Thoele said. Where are they now?
The public spoke for more than 10 minutes. Those who spoke on Fehrenbacher's
behalf were former players, parents of former players, a manager of this year's
team and supporters of the Teutopolis basketball program.
Vic Hardiek's son, Mike Hardiek, graduated in 2003 from Teutopolis and went on
to play at Lincoln Land and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Vic said
his son had nothing but good things to say about Fehrenbacher.
Instead of firing him, give him a raise, Vic Hardiek said.
Many of the more than 65 people who attended the meeting quickly left after the
vote was made.
Fritcher gave a statement after the meeting.
First of all, the school board and I want to thank Mr. Fehrenbacher for his many
years of service to our school district and the athletes that he's coached. At this
time, the board desires to take the boys basketball program in a different direction.
It's our expectation that our teams will continue to compete at a high level, just as
they've done in the past. We'll begin a search immediately for a new coach. I do
want to point out that Mr. Fehrenbacher remains a valuable member of an
excellent teaching staff at the high school and we certainly wish Mr. Fehrenbacher
and his family the best, he said.
Fehrenbacher had been at the helm since 2007 and just finished his eighth season
as head coach. His record through eight seasons is 200-44 with a .820 winning

percentage. His teams had appeared in five straight sectional championship games
and, prior to this season, saw four straight Super-Sectional appearances.