Termination of RHS head wrestling coach sparks community response

The termination of Clint Gard as the Rochester varsity wrestling head coach has brought community attention, as former students and parents demand answers. Gard was given the option of resigning or being fired from his position as head coach. He initially declined the option of resigning. An email was sent out earlier this week stating that the new varsity wrestling head coach would be Tristan Wilson, pending approval from the school board.

Community members are putting Rochester varsity wrestling head coach Clint Gard back in the spotlight after RHS Athletic Director Cal Stone announced last week that Gard would no longer be head coach for the team.

Although specifics about Gard's situation were not provided, the announcement did say that Gard had violated provisions of a plan formulated for the coach four years earlier. In 2020 a separate situation had come up, sparking community uproar when Gard had not been rehired as head wrestling coach. 

Signs supporting Gard's coaching career began popping up throughout the community, and after multiple public apologies Gard was hired back. A plan was put in place for Gard's coaching, and despite it being revisited in 2021, it had still been in effect for the 2024-2025 school year. 

A personal incident over the summer involving a wrestler not coming to practice, and the wrestler being potentially removed from the team temporarily launched more issues for Gard and his position as head coach. Issues were recently brought to a head on Sept. 25, when school officials were made aware of the situation. Accused of violating the general decorum standards, specifically in reference to exhibiting civility in dealing with athletes and parents, Gard was asked by officials to resign or be fired.

Gard initially declined the request to resign, addressing the two reasons given in his termination letter as issues that had been blown out of proportion by the athlete and family. Gard is still employed as a teacher at the school, and the termination was solely on his job as head wrestling coach. An email was sent out earlier this week stating that the new varsity wrestling head coach would be Tristan Wilson, pending approval from the school board. 

After word got out to the community, Gard supporters are gearing up to support the coach about his termination. A Rochester Community School Board meeting at Columbia Elementary School brought around five of Gard's supporters who had hopes of talking to school board members about his termination. The Gard situation, however, had not been on the board's agenda and the topic was not spoken about in the meeting. 

One of the supporters attending Tuesday's meeting had asked to remain anonymous, but commented that she knew of many students on the wrestling team who planned on quitting if Gard was not brought back. ''This is not over, we're not done fighting for Gard. He has done so much for these kids, and we want answers,'' the anonymous attendee said. 

Lindsey McIntire was another supporter who attended Tuesday's meeting in support of Gard. McIntire said she is a former student of Gard, who helped cultivate her love for Algebra while in school. McIntire said she had attended the meeting with hopes of getting a chance to speak with school board members on the subject of Gard's termination. McIntire said her and Gard's many supporters will continue to attend school board meetings until the subject on Gard's termination is publicly addressed at the meeting.