Forget out as Durango boys coach
Barry Forget has been the only boys soccer coach Durango has ever known.
On Wednesday, the 17-year coach was told he wouldn’t be welcomed back next season.
Forget was fired as boys coach less than a week after the Trailblazers completed a 4-13-1 season.
“This is right out of the blue,” said Forget, who added he learned about the decision Wednesday morning. “I was told I was fired because I didn’t have a (junior varsity) team. It was unethical. I’m flabbergasted with my years of experience to be treated this way.”
Forget, who led Durango to a third-place finish in the Southwest League in 2008, had a junior varsity coach in place last summer and said he sent fliers home over the summer encouraging students to come out for soccer once school started.
“The most we ever had was 12 kids out there (for junior varsity), and we had only 15 on varsity,” Forget said. “At one point, I had 12 sophomores and freshmen on the varsity team.”
Durango started three freshmen on varsity at one point this season, and lost two starters — including a captain — to injuries. A third starter left the school.
“My fund-raising was taken away. It’s just crazy,” said Forget, who also was upset that his teams goals were taken and given to a middle school. They were returned damaged, Forget said.
Forget will continue to teach boys physical education.
Durango athletic administrator Tim Jackson confirmed that Forget is still listed as the school’s girls soccer coach and said he didn’t anticipate any changes. Girls soccer practices start in less than two weeks.
“We’re looking to go in a different direction (with the boys program),” Jackson said. “There were many factors (in the decision).”