Newark Memorial High School in California will dismiss all of its coaches at the end of the school year, according to NBC Bay Area, a sweeping move that has sparked frustration among longtime staff and former athletes.
The Newark Unified School District says the decision is part of an effort to strengthen hiring practices and ensure student safety, but more than 40 head and assistant coaches were informed they must reapply for their positions for the 2026–27 school year.
Among them is Gordon Crosby, who has coached swimming and water polo at Newark Memorial since the late 1990s. He called the news “a slap in the face,” noting the decades of time and personal investment he has poured into the programs. Alumni echoed that sentiment, arguing the district is creating unnecessary barriers for coaches who have built strong environments for student‑athletes…