Post by Banana Cat on Mar 18, 2011 7:01:53 GMT -5
www.mlive.com/sports/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/03/saginaw_sting_dismiss_head_coa.htmlSaginaw Sting dismiss head coach John Mize
March 17, 2011
Kyle Austin | The Saginaw News
SAGINAW — John Mize has been relieved of his duties as Saginaw Sting head coach, Sting General Manager Stuart Schweigert said Thursday.
Assistant coach Vince Leveille will take over the head coaching job on an interim basis for the remainder of the season starting with the team’s Monday game in Canton, Ohio, Schweigert said.
Leveille, who coached at Vassar High School for 10 years and has been a volunteer assistant at Saginaw Valley State, is the fourth person to be named Sting head coach since the franchise was revived six months ago. Leveille was also a coach with the original Saginaw Sting from 2008-09.
Ervin Bryson was named coach in September under the franchise’s original ownership group. He was replaced by Francisco Lujan in December when the league assumed ownership of the team. Lujan left the team for personal reasons just before the start of training camp last month.
Mize spent a month as the team’s head coach, guiding the team to a 2-1 start, before being dismissed this week. Reached for comment Thursday morning, Mize confirmed he had been dismissed but did not comment further.
Schweigert, who started off as the team’s director of player development before adding general manager duties, said the primary reason for Mize’s dismissal was his failure to submit a game roster last week by the midnight Wednesday deadline.
As a result, the league used used an outdated roster for the Sting’s Sunday game against Huntington, which didn’t include linebacker John Jacobs or defensive back Ed Loscalzo.
Playing with only 16 players dressed out of a possible 18, the Sting lost, 38-37.
Schweigert said he had to inform Jacobs and Loscalzo that they were ineligible an hour before kickoff Sunday.
“When I have to go in and tell two players they can’t play because they didn’t get the roster in on time. it’s embarrassing to me,” Schweigert said.
While other factors, like scheduling problems and communication issues also played into the decision, Schweigert said he and Sting Chief Executive Officer Mike Esposito decided to make a coaching change primarily because of Mize’s failure to submit an active roster. Esposito was not available for comment Thursday.
Schweigert said Mize was notified Thursday morning via e-mail that he had missed the deadline, but failed to inform either the players or coaches. Schweigert found out that Loscalzo and Jacobs were ineligible from a game official an hour before the game.
“When you’re messing with guys playing time and their ability to get film, that’s when you’ve got to draw the line,” Schweigert said.
Two other assistant coaches, Terry Foster and Paul Mattey, have also came and left since the start of the regular season.
Schweigert said the coaching staff for Monday’s game will include Leveille, who will also act as offensive coordinator, and recently hired defensive coordinator Fred Townsend. Quarterback Tommy Jones will assist with the play calling, and Schweigert will help with the defensive coaching duties.
The Sting play again three days later, at The Dow Event Center Thursday night against Eastern Kentucky.
March 17, 2011
Kyle Austin | The Saginaw News
SAGINAW — John Mize has been relieved of his duties as Saginaw Sting head coach, Sting General Manager Stuart Schweigert said Thursday.
Assistant coach Vince Leveille will take over the head coaching job on an interim basis for the remainder of the season starting with the team’s Monday game in Canton, Ohio, Schweigert said.
Leveille, who coached at Vassar High School for 10 years and has been a volunteer assistant at Saginaw Valley State, is the fourth person to be named Sting head coach since the franchise was revived six months ago. Leveille was also a coach with the original Saginaw Sting from 2008-09.
Ervin Bryson was named coach in September under the franchise’s original ownership group. He was replaced by Francisco Lujan in December when the league assumed ownership of the team. Lujan left the team for personal reasons just before the start of training camp last month.
Mize spent a month as the team’s head coach, guiding the team to a 2-1 start, before being dismissed this week. Reached for comment Thursday morning, Mize confirmed he had been dismissed but did not comment further.
Schweigert, who started off as the team’s director of player development before adding general manager duties, said the primary reason for Mize’s dismissal was his failure to submit a game roster last week by the midnight Wednesday deadline.
As a result, the league used used an outdated roster for the Sting’s Sunday game against Huntington, which didn’t include linebacker John Jacobs or defensive back Ed Loscalzo.
Playing with only 16 players dressed out of a possible 18, the Sting lost, 38-37.
Schweigert said he had to inform Jacobs and Loscalzo that they were ineligible an hour before kickoff Sunday.
“When I have to go in and tell two players they can’t play because they didn’t get the roster in on time. it’s embarrassing to me,” Schweigert said.
While other factors, like scheduling problems and communication issues also played into the decision, Schweigert said he and Sting Chief Executive Officer Mike Esposito decided to make a coaching change primarily because of Mize’s failure to submit an active roster. Esposito was not available for comment Thursday.
Schweigert said Mize was notified Thursday morning via e-mail that he had missed the deadline, but failed to inform either the players or coaches. Schweigert found out that Loscalzo and Jacobs were ineligible from a game official an hour before the game.
“When you’re messing with guys playing time and their ability to get film, that’s when you’ve got to draw the line,” Schweigert said.
Two other assistant coaches, Terry Foster and Paul Mattey, have also came and left since the start of the regular season.
Schweigert said the coaching staff for Monday’s game will include Leveille, who will also act as offensive coordinator, and recently hired defensive coordinator Fred Townsend. Quarterback Tommy Jones will assist with the play calling, and Schweigert will help with the defensive coaching duties.
The Sting play again three days later, at The Dow Event Center Thursday night against Eastern Kentucky.
