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would your school?

Hire him. Prior to his major league screw up, which was over 10 years ago, I had heard nothing but very good things about him. Here's one of the internet comments below the linked article:

"Let's see, Simms has a chance to have a coach, at their high school, that if he hadn't got in trouble, would probably be head man at Boise State. You have a chance to hire an All-American, professional NFL player, who hit rock bottom and now wants a chance to coach your boys and teach them what Joe already has suffered through. Don't see this one as a tough decision."
 
If anything he would be a good example of how fast you can lose everything because of drugs.
 
Don't hire him. Convicted felon- enough said. It's not about him; it's about the liability of the school and potential future legal consequences for the school. I understand "forgiveness," but choices have consequences. He made serious bad choices. Many teenagers have not developed the tools to evaluate "cool" from "mistakes." As a parent, I would not want him to coach my sons. It's not all about the knowledge of the game. IMHO.
 
This is the exact problem with small Montana schools. If you don't know the right people, or don't have crystal clear background, they turn their back on potential good coaches. It will be a shame if the school hires someone that cannot coach, but to just fill the position.

The ironic part is, the people against him being hire will be the 1st people bitching about the coaching of whoever they hire.

I wish him well, and hope Simms gives him a shot. He made that mistake a long time ago, and is staying clean. He has paid his price. Do what is right for him, and your program, hire him!!!
 
I keep going back and forth on this one. I think he would be a great coach, and i certainly wouldnt have any issues with him coaching my kid, however, i still say no.

That said, ill probably change my mind in the next ten minutes.
 
Can you get a teaching license in MT if you've been convicted of a felony? I realize he just wants to coach but if being a felon DQs you as a teacher then maybe it's not such a hot idea to have one as a coach.
 
Interesting that we refer to our prison institutions as "correctional" facilities, but want to permanently brand those who are sent away to be "corrected" with permanent scarlet letters. I know a little bit about the games addicts play and I get a sense that he is being honest with the people. As long as he stays honest I believe in the right to redemption, or what do we build prisons for if not just to warehouse society's miscreants?
 
Give the guy a shot. He is passionate about coaching and wants the job badly enough to put himself and his past under public scrutiny. I do not like the culture of judgment and public shaming or shunning of anyone who has made mistakes. I think his past mistakes could go a long way in lending him credibility to the kids he coaches.
 
Simms has had a lot of problems in the past. I know at this point they have moved beyond a lot of those problems. Yet, for a school that had years upon years of bad press in the Tribune, the Obrein debate does bring up some past problems within the district. The type of issues that doesn't reflect well on the school district, community and population of the Sun River Valley. The vitriol spewed on the comment section of the tribune article is greatly reflective of those issues. Knowing some of the people in the debate, I think it would be good to hear Joe out, because like I said it isn't if the district doesn't have a million skeletons in the closet. Obrein doesn't, his past issues are out for everyone to see and examine.

I for one am all for giving the guy a chance. I heard a lot of positive things in my time in Montana about his character (despite the obvious drug issues), and if his goal is to improve the life of kids that he is around and gain some perspective from his own mistakes, then I think the hire is a good one.
 
I certainly understand the redemption thing; but should something go wrong, the school district would be crucified. Huge leap of faith when school is dealing with someone's child. The price tag would be astronomical. I believe they almost have to error on the side of caution.
 
dsprout said:
I certainly understand the redemption thing; but should something go wrong, the school district would be crucified. Huge leap of faith when school is dealing with someone's child. The price tag would be astronomical. I believe they almost have to error on the side of caution.
Click to expand...

I could go into absurd detail, but I won't, lets just say that the district has had those type of issues in the past. Since I left the area things have changed immensely within the district, and much of it for the better. I for one believe that he (Obrein) would be a perfect fit for the area and worth the risk.

But there is a concern and a legitimate one about the negatives. Heck, there are a few districts here in southern idaho that can't get out of their way with these things, and the concern is the same: how much neck does the districts want to extend for people with questionable past.

The advantage w/ obrein unlike some seedy arse teachers that have their files closed from past districts and no way knowing as to why they were asked to leave, at least this time Simms is able to discuss those issues out in the open.
 
He paid his due, give him a chance. We need to enforce harsher sentences for those that f*ck up a 2nd time. (don't give them a chance to screw up a 3rd)
 
What Grzftbl said (minus the two strikes bs), he's served his time, the stigma of being a felon shouldn't affect his hiring.
 
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