Players attend school board meeting in support of now-former McKeesport girl’s basketball coach

MCKEESPORT, Pa. — At Thursday night’s McKeesport Area School Board meeting, outspoken and tearful current and former girl’s basketball players showed support for now-former high school girl’s basketball head coach Amy Gumbert.

“I want my coaches back,” freshman player Blessing McClellan said.

“It doesn’t make any sense to me. How are you going to take a winning coach’s position away from them,” added 2017 graduate and former player Johnasia Cash.

According to the district’s solicitor, Gary Matta, Gumbert verbally resigned earlier this week following a dispute with some of her players, who walked out of practice.

The school board accepted her resignation at Thursday’s meeting.

“The board felt that it was the best thing for the team and for the program moving forward to make a clean break right now,” Matta said.

Several underclassmen players spoke in support of Gumbert saying she only resigned because multiple seniors said they no longer wanted to play for her.

“Me and a few underclassmen feel that we didn’t have any say so in keeping Coach Amy as a coach,” sophomore player Luciana Lewis said.

Gumbert apparently asked to rescind her resignation the following day but was told by school officials that it was too late.

She and her assistant coaches had already been replaced by teacher and football coach Matt Miller.

“The board knew we’re making a playoff run. This team is one of the top teams in the state. This has been a very hard decision, but the board feels this is the best decision for the students involved,” Matta said.

Gumbert spoke at Thursday’s meeting, wishing the program well in her absence.

“I still want them to win,” Gumbert said. “Through all this, I love my kids and I still want them to win. That’s is why I’m here, so everyone in the whole city and everyone who’s talking bad about me knows I still want them to win.”

According to Matta, the girls basketball coaching position will be posted at the end of the season and Gumbert will be able to re-apply if she chooses to do so.

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