Foltz steps down as Newport coach
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Kermit Foltz has resigned as boys basketball coach at Newport High School, and all but one varsity player will be suspended for one to three games because of water-balloon fights on a holiday trip.
Foltz, 28, chose to resign Wednesday after being reprimanded for what administrators told him was a lack of supervision on a trip to the Los Angeles Times Orange Holiday Classic.
"It's in the best interest of players and the basketball program that I resign," Foltz said. "My administration had a concern about the supervision on the trip."
Foltz said the misbehavior didn't involve alcohol, drugs or trashing of hotel rooms. He said one water-balloon fight occurred inside a hotel, the other outside. .
"I was aware of both water-balloon incidents and the administration had a problem with that," he said.
Foltz said that if he could do it over again, he would have disciplined everyone involved in the first water-balloon fight immediately to send a message that such behavior was unacceptable.
Foltz said he also was criticized because five players once left their rooms at 4 a.m. - hours after bedcheck - and visited a convenience store.
Foltz, who teaches at a junior high school, was in his sixth year as head coach at Newport. Before that, he spent four years as a Newport assistant.
Newport won the KingCo 3A regular season and tournament titles last season with a team that lacked a player taller than 6 feet 2. The Knights beat powerhouse Mercer Island twice during the season.
Foltz had a 75-57 record at Newport, including this season's 6-8 mark. His teams qualified for the district tournament the past four seasons.
Foltz said his assistant, Chris Whitaker, has been promoted to head coach. Whitaker is in his fourth season on the staff.
Foltz said the suspensions will be "rotating" so that the Knights have varsity players for each game. He said the suspensions will begin for tonight's game against Mount Si (10-3). He said some junior-varsity athletes will be brought up to the varsity to help ill the roster.
Foltz said, "I still want to coach," and he said he hopes to land elsewhere "right away."
"A lot of people are upset that I have stepped down," Foltz said.
Foltz said he had been on 19 previous basketball trips at Newport without problems.
Newport Athletic Director Woody Cox said last night that any comment on the situation would have to come from the school principal.