EPHS Coaching / City Hall Uproar Quieted

A controversy that swirled around the city for days was ended when City Manager Paul Lemont relented and will now allow two City employees to also coach East Providence High School athletic teams, using personal time. Rumors in EP athletic circles that two highly successful East Providence High School coaches had been informed that their coaching positions were in jeopardy had been confirmed. Head hockey coach Kevin Croke and head soccer coach Tony Vieira are the two coaches in question. Croke works full time in the department of Public Works in engineering. Vieira also works for the city in the recreation department. Both were hired to be part-time coaches for the high school. Usually, by contract and prior practice, regular teachers are offered coaching jobs first. But in cases whereby no teacher applies for a coaching position, the school department can hire from the community at large.

This was the case with high school hockey and soccer. After no teacher applied for these two open positions, both Croke and Vieira were hired. Both coaches have done excellent jobs according to many close to both the hockey and soccer programs. A couple of years ago there was strong talk in the city that high school hockey was going to be abolished due to its' cost and other factors. The school has to rent out-of-town rinks to practice and play games. Equipment is expensive and there are transportation costs. Within a short time, however, coach Croke built up a strong hockey program and the team has won two recent division state championships. That seemed to lessen the appetite for dropping hockey and the program has thrived.

Tony Vieira has also brought a dedication and positive effort to the soccer team. The team's long time former coach, Mario Andrade has taken a leave and has not indicated a desire to return. Andrade teaches in Pawtucket. Vieira also is active in city soccer circles and is the person responsible for the effort to construct a new synthetic athletic field behind the high school. The field would be for high school and city youth groups. However, it had recently stalled after legal procedural objections from the city. This stall may delay the entire project in time for next season.

Sources have told the Reporter that both Croke and Vieira have been told by "the City" that they were not allowed to have two city jobs. Earlier this year a young woman who works in city hall and had extensive coaching experience from another high school in Rhode Island was denied a coaching job at EPHS because of her work schedule. She was a top applicant for the job and had asked to rearrange her schedule, without taking a lunch break, in order to get the job. She was denied. Most coaches work late afternoons, evenings and weekends with practicing and actual games. In at least one of the two current matters, it appeared that City Manager Paul Lemont delivered the message that the coach couldn't continue coaching and work for the city.

School committee member Joel Monteiro sent out a blog in which he said was in response to concerns he had received from constituents. "We need your help. The EPHS Boys Soccer and Hockey coaches, after several years of success, are being forced to forfeit their coaching position by the city. Both gentlemen are long-standing city employees, with good performance status. They use their vacation time to leave early, when necessary, to coach our children. The Hockey Team won their 2014 championship, and the Soccer Team beat LaSalle for the first time since 1996, and beat defending champs North Kingstown as well. These men are an asset to our school program, and community. Ask anyone whose child has played for them, and you'll understand their value," wrote Monteiro. The community pressure was quite heavy against Lemont's ruling.

Council member at Large, Tracy Capobianco had introduced an ordinance proposal to allow the coaches to continue if they used their own vacation or personal time, but in the meantime Lemont changed his position and the coaches can stay. Read more in Sports about soccer coach Vieira however.