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Spongers, Grayer part ways

Tarpon's principal says the first-year coach resigned for personal reasons. Grayer says he was asked to quit.

By JOHN C. COTEY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 24, 2002

Tarpon Springs principal John Nicely said last summer when he hired Michael Grayer to be his basketball coach that he wanted someone young, energetic and committed to building a program.

Twelve games into the season, he apparently has decided Grayer isn't that person.

Though Nicely says Grayer resigned last week for personal reasons, the coach clearly indicated that if it was his choice, he'd still be coaching the Spongers.

"Yeah, I resigned for personal reasons," Grayer, 29, said, "although that is not the reason I truly resigned."

That statement by Grayer, and others he made, paint a picture of Grayer being called into a meeting after his team's Jan. 10 loss to Mitchell and being asked to resign because parents and players were unhappy with him.

Nicely didn't deny that he forced Grayer to quit, saying only that he called the coach in "and we talked and he decided to resign for personal reasons and I accepted that."

Asked if he requested the resignation, Nicely repeated, "he resigned for personal reasons."

Nicely admitted there might have been some parental pressure to dismiss Grayer, rather than just his record (1-11).

"There were some concerns," Nicely said. "Just things in general."

Those things were probably a stricter code of discipline than the players were used to, according to Grayer. He said he was still surprised by the results of the meeting, though, and was looking forward to turning around the Sponger program when he was called into Nicely's office.

"I was in complete shock. I didn't think that I was going to be released, but hey, I guess you have to give people what they want," Grayer said. "If they don't respect you or want to play for you because you are a disciplinarian and actually want them to succeed ... I wanted them to work hard, and they weren't used to that. Maybe that's what happens.

"I don't feel like I shouldn't be the head coach. I don't feel like I did anything wrong to the point where I would have lost my coaching position."

When told that Grayer said he had no plans to resign before the meeting and whatever happened at the meeting forced his hand, Nicely stuck by his earlier statement that it was Grayer's choice.

"If that's what he's saying, then quote him," Nicely said. "My statement is he agreed to resign for personal reasons."

A Dixie Hollins assistant last year, Grayer replaced Jerry Woodka, who quit after four seasons. Grayer became the fourth coach in the past 13 seasons at Tarpon.

The fifth is Keith Thornburgh, who will coach the team the rest of the season with help from athletic director Eric Zebley. Thornburgh was the Tarpon coach from 1983-89, never compiling a winning season and quitting for health reasons after a 2-25 record in 1989.

The team is 0-3 since Grayer left.

When the season is over, Nicely will begin a search for a new coach.

Grayer, who is still an earth space science and ecology teacher at the school, said he plans to pursue other coaching jobs at the end of the academic year.

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