On September 4, 2019 Steilacoom High School administrators held a panel interview for the head basketball coaching position after recent retirement of Gary Wusterbarth. The three candidates were Bruce Hayes (current SHS assistant basketball coach, SHSD alumni and PE teacher at Pioneer middle school for 35+ years) Elmer Lago (current SHS JV and assistant varsity coach of 15 years, SHSD alumni and current SHS substitute teacher) and Eric Overgaard (SHS security guard and Stadium High School basketball coach). The end result was that the majority of the interview panel selected Elmer Lago. On the night of September 6, 2019 a Facebook post was generated throughout our boys basketball team like wildfire congratulating Eric Overgaard as the new head coach of SHS. Immediately some of the basketball players texted their coaches Lago and Hayes and questioned what’s going on? They asked why did Overgaard get the position. The coaches didn’t have any idea that a decision had been made. Our dedicated coaches Hayes and Lago found out through social media that they did not get the head coaching position at SHS. Is this how our school district rewards their dedicated employees?

A few of our basketball players went into Michael Miller’s (SHS principle) office on Monday morning September 9, 2019 to ask the question of why weren’t our coaches treated fairly? What credentials did Overgaard have that our coaches didn’t? Miller fumbled around and didn’t really have a good solid reason that had anything to do with basketball. Miller started out by saying it was a hard decision and he had to pick between two names that came forward from the panel which were Lago and Overgaard. The boys asked if it was such a hard decision why didn’t you conduct second interviews since you were not on the interview panel? Miller once again didn’t have a legitimate answer. The boys left his office shaking their heads that a mentor of their high school could get away with this nepotism behavior.

Miller was questioned why did he let Overgaard know that he got the job and didn’t call the other candidates that same day and he stated it was too late in the day to call. The fact is the Facebook post that was generated posted at 5:02 pm so Miller did have time to notify them but chose not to. We need to stand up for Lago and Hayes who we want to coach our boys basketball team. Please sign this petition to show the superintendent and school board of the SHSD that we want Miller’s decision for head basketball coach overturned. Elmer Lago or Bruce Hayes deserve the job!