****Update****

We now have the email addresses for the incoming Athletic Director and Head of School. We ask that you include them on all new emails, and also add them to any prior correspondence sent to current school administrators.

Mo Gaitan (Incoming Athletic Director)

mo.gaitan13@gmail.com

Chris Torino (Incoming Head of Schoo)

cjtori01@gmail.com

This petition is to support the reinstatement of Tyler Biwan as head coach of the Blake Bears boys basketball program.

Coach Biwan has led the program since 2016, taking over a team that had won only 5 games the season prior. Under his leadership, the program immediately improved, rising to 10 wins in his first season and continuing to build year after year.

Over the past decade, Coach Biwan has transformed Blake Boys Basketball into a highly competitive and respected program. His leadership resulted in consistent growth, including multiple double digit win seasons, a 22 win season, and a Section Finals appearance. The team achieved a 15 and 2 record and earned a #4AA ranking, along with its first win over a top 10 ranked AAAA opponent.

In recent years, the success has only accelerated. The program earned its first #1AA ranking, recorded seven straight seasons with 15 or more wins, and ultimately captured a Section 5AA Championship and a State Tournament appearance.

Over the last seven seasons alone, the program has maintained a 71 percent win rate, developed multiple 1,000 point scorers, produced two Conference Players of the Year, and helped send five student athletes on to NCAA basketball programs.

Despite this sustained success and the culture that has been built, the reason for Coach Biwan and his staff being let go has not been publicly made known. What is clear, however, is that Coach Biwan consistently put the success of the team above the individual wants of families or outside pressures. He made decisions based on what was best for the program as a whole, and the results, especially this past season, speak for themselves.

This is more than wins and losses. This is about leadership, accountability, and a decade of dedication to building something meaningful for student athletes and the Blake community. The impact of Coach Biwan and his staff goes far beyond the court. It lives in the lessons taught, the culture built, and the pride that players and alumni carry with them long after their time in the program.

We are asking alumni not only from the basketball family, but from the entire Blake school community, past and present, to come together and rally behind Coach Biwan and his staff. Their work, commitment, and impact deserve to continue.

We also respectfully ask supporters to reach out directly to school leadership and the athletic department to share their support for reinstating Coach Biwan and his staff:

Hugh Brown (Interim Athletic Director) – hbrown@blakeschool.org
Anne Stavney (Last Year Head of School)– astavney@blakeschool.org

Assistant Athletic Directors:
Nathan Hennessy – nhennessy@blakeschool.org
Kristi King – kking@blakeschool.org
Jamie Steinberg – jsteinberg@blakeschool.org

Given his proven track record, unwavering commitment, and the sustained success of the program under his leadership, we respectfully ask for Tyler Biwan and his staff to be reinstated as leaders of the Blake Bears boys basketball team.

Below is an example of am email that could be drafted to share your thoughts with the School.

Hello Anne and Hugh,

I am writing today out of both frustration and sadness. I recently learned that Tyler Biwan, who has served as the Boys Basketball Head Coach for over ten years, has been let go. I want to express my deep disappointment, not only as a Blake alumnus from the Class of 2010, but also as a parent of a future Blake student athlete in the Class of 2030.

Coach Biwan has done a tremendous job leading the program since he began. He truly embodies what it means to be part of the Blake community. He is a class act, both on and off the court.

What stands out most is the way Tyler and his staff have gone above and beyond to build relationships with families. They have consistently checked in with my family, taken a genuine interest in my son’s development, and made an effort to attend his middle school games even though he is not yet part of the varsity program. They have created an environment where young athletes feel welcomed and supported, including opening summer workouts to help build connection and growth.

Coach Biwan and his staff have played a major role in strengthening the basketball community at Blake, both within the school and beyond. I am aware of incoming students who have chosen Blake not only for academics, but also because of the culture and leadership of the basketball program under Coach Biwan. His impact reaches far beyond wins and losses.

This decision has left not only the Blake community, but also those outside of it, surprised and searching for answers, especially following what was clearly a historic and successful season.

I respectfully ask that this decision be reconsidered. Coach Biwan and his staff are a tremendous asset to the Blake community, and I believe the majority of families and supporters share this sentiment.

If you would like any additional perspective or a better understanding of the impact Coach Biwan has had, I would welcome the opportunity to speak further. Please feel free to call or email me at your convenience.