My 10 year old has been learning wrestling for the past 1.5 yrs under the watchful eyes of coach Needham. My son looks forward to wrestling practice days. The confidence coach Needham and his team has installed in the kid is something you see in movies.
Point to note is that I hail from a non sporting family that has always placed great emphasis on education in the sciences. The dedication, effort that Shane puts into the program and the role model that he is to all the kids makes me comfortable in having my son continue wrestling practices till he graduates high school.
Its is unacceptable that a long term growth plan for kids is being hindered by not extending Shane's contract. It is rather unexplainable that a great performance through the year has been rewarded by making sure it doesn't extend.
The total lack of information on the decision is not appropriate for a school district.
I hereby demand that the school board come out with precise details for the decision, what plans they have for the wrestling program and then let the taxpayers decide , if the vision that they have is far better than what coach Shane has shown in one year.
If not, let coach Shane continue building on the foundation he has put in place.
D
Dale Miller
10 years ago
Coach Needham has done exceptional work with my young sons. He has also inspired a lot of volunteerism that I suspect most programs lack. He is passionate about building his participants into capable athletes and responsible youth. I am at a loss for an explanation as to why someone who takes such amazing initiative to build a program including a club for younger participants -- and offers personal resources to make it happen -- would not be welcomed and asked to return for as long as he is willing. If there is a personality conflict of some sort, I would hope that all involved would employ some of the interpersonal approaches that Dr. Needham teaches to the youth off the mat. Specifically, issue identification, open communication, willingness to accept differences but respect each other, and humility.
M
Michele Palmer
10 years ago
I have never witnessed a coach that believes so strongly in developing athletes into upstanding human beings. Coach Needham willingly commits endless hours of personal time to achieve this. Coach Needham inspires kids to be the best version they can be regardless of wins or losses on the mat. Each and every one of our kids deserves to be inspired by someone with that much passion and drive!
We are truly blessed to have Coach Needham here in Moscow. It would be a travesty to take him out and perpetuate the revolving door of inexperienced coaches that we have been plagued with in the past.
Please write your School Board Members to explain how unjust this is.
A
Amanda Gray
10 years ago
Reinstate Coach Needham
C
Casey Griffith
10 years ago
Please reinstate coach needham!
D
Dennis McGreevy
10 years ago
Ask yourself...Why would someone who has earned a PhD in Chemistry, and then gone on to co-found and lead a highly successful business divert so much of his time and personal resources to lead a youth wrestling program? Is it the money? The fame? The leisure such an endeavor affords? Ha! Dr. Needham has chosen to invest himself in Moscow wrestling because he is passionate about helping boys become successful men. The vehicle he has chosen to accomplish this critical objective is wrestling. When one pairs his wrestling program with what MHS teachers are doing in the classrooms, you have the necessary foundational components required to successfully graduate young men (and woman! Don't forget, they are welcome to wrestle too!) of distinction. And isn't this what we are about? Let me conclude this post by applauding MSD for hiring Dr. Needham last year. That decision showed wisdom. May you exercise the same wisdom by reconsidering your decision not renew his contract for the coming year.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
This man is a high quality coach. Moscow High School and the surrounding area needs him.
B
Brenda Riendeau
10 years ago
Coach Needham has put Moscow back on the map with his leadership of the Moscow High School wrestling team!
L
Lorene Middleton
10 years ago
MSD it is time that you show some integrity and reinstate this valuable coach. I have lived in Moscow 43 years and attended the school district where I watched you keep teachers and coaches that never should have continued on. You have an individual that shows integrity and truly has a passion for teaching students the values of life. You fire him because he isn't fitting your lackadaisical views/actions. Pathetic. Start doing something right by reinstating this coach and then work on your integrity and honor, your view in this community is already low. Time for change.
J
Jennifer Wallace
10 years ago
Featured
Shane has been a powerful, positive force in the wrestling program. He's building enthusiasm in the community for the sport, helped guide the team to state last year as an assistant coach, and took even more boys this year as coach. Please reconsider the decision to let him go. We need more coaches like him.
R
Ronda Jafolla
10 years ago
I may not have any kids in school here anymore but I have friends that do and they have nothing but great things to say about this coach! I fully support any coach and or teacher that can have such an amazing impact on our children, even if MSD does not...Maybe kids would thrive and WANT to be there if we had more people like him in the schools..
S
Scott Palmer
10 years ago
Please contact your Moscow School Board Members and continue these great comments to them!
B
Brooke Spurgeon
10 years ago
Keep Coach Needham!
S
Scott Palmer
10 years ago
Shane Needham is an amazing wrestling coach but more importantly an amazing role model and mentor to the student athletes. He has always put life lessons before wrestling accolades. Moscow High School does not have a long history of success in wrestling mostly because of the revolving door of coaches the students have unfortunately been exposed to (I had four coaches in the four years I wrestled for MHS). Coach Needham was there to change all that with the dedication, consistency and leadership that any administration would dream of in a coach. The amount of time & resources he has put into the program and the immediate positive impact he has had on student’s lives makes me question the motive behind the decision to not have him back. How is the administration not seeing the same positive impacts the rest of the Moscow community is?
H
Heather McPherson
10 years ago
He helped gain the recognition that the wrestling teams deserved.
A
Angela Carpenter
10 years ago
I would love to see Shane continue the incredible success he's had with these kids.
J
Jim Leary
10 years ago
It's the students who will suffer.
J
Jason Stevens
10 years ago
A great head coach who deserves to keep his position as the head coach!
J
Jeri Callies
10 years ago
Please keep him on!
L
Luke Ordway
10 years ago
We need good coaches in Moscow and I hope the community would do the same for any. Or make it known why he was let go.
My 10 year old has been learning wrestling for the past 1.5 yrs under the watchful eyes of coach Needham. My son looks forward to wrestling practice days. The confidence coach Needham and his team has installed in the kid is something you see in movies. Point to note is that I hail from a non sporting family that has always placed great emphasis on education in the sciences. The dedication, effort that Shane puts into the program and the role model that he is to all the kids makes me comfortable in having my son continue wrestling practices till he graduates high school. Its is unacceptable that a long term growth plan for kids is being hindered by not extending Shane's contract. It is rather unexplainable that a great performance through the year has been rewarded by making sure it doesn't extend. The total lack of information on the decision is not appropriate for a school district. I hereby demand that the school board come out with precise details for the decision, what plans they have for the wrestling program and then let the taxpayers decide , if the vision that they have is far better than what coach Shane has shown in one year. If not, let coach Shane continue building on the foundation he has put in place.
Coach Needham has done exceptional work with my young sons. He has also inspired a lot of volunteerism that I suspect most programs lack. He is passionate about building his participants into capable athletes and responsible youth. I am at a loss for an explanation as to why someone who takes such amazing initiative to build a program including a club for younger participants -- and offers personal resources to make it happen -- would not be welcomed and asked to return for as long as he is willing. If there is a personality conflict of some sort, I would hope that all involved would employ some of the interpersonal approaches that Dr. Needham teaches to the youth off the mat. Specifically, issue identification, open communication, willingness to accept differences but respect each other, and humility.
I have never witnessed a coach that believes so strongly in developing athletes into upstanding human beings. Coach Needham willingly commits endless hours of personal time to achieve this. Coach Needham inspires kids to be the best version they can be regardless of wins or losses on the mat. Each and every one of our kids deserves to be inspired by someone with that much passion and drive! We are truly blessed to have Coach Needham here in Moscow. It would be a travesty to take him out and perpetuate the revolving door of inexperienced coaches that we have been plagued with in the past. Please write your School Board Members to explain how unjust this is.
Reinstate Coach Needham
Please reinstate coach needham!
Ask yourself...Why would someone who has earned a PhD in Chemistry, and then gone on to co-found and lead a highly successful business divert so much of his time and personal resources to lead a youth wrestling program? Is it the money? The fame? The leisure such an endeavor affords? Ha! Dr. Needham has chosen to invest himself in Moscow wrestling because he is passionate about helping boys become successful men. The vehicle he has chosen to accomplish this critical objective is wrestling. When one pairs his wrestling program with what MHS teachers are doing in the classrooms, you have the necessary foundational components required to successfully graduate young men (and woman! Don't forget, they are welcome to wrestle too!) of distinction. And isn't this what we are about? Let me conclude this post by applauding MSD for hiring Dr. Needham last year. That decision showed wisdom. May you exercise the same wisdom by reconsidering your decision not renew his contract for the coming year.
This man is a high quality coach. Moscow High School and the surrounding area needs him.
Coach Needham has put Moscow back on the map with his leadership of the Moscow High School wrestling team!
MSD it is time that you show some integrity and reinstate this valuable coach. I have lived in Moscow 43 years and attended the school district where I watched you keep teachers and coaches that never should have continued on. You have an individual that shows integrity and truly has a passion for teaching students the values of life. You fire him because he isn't fitting your lackadaisical views/actions. Pathetic. Start doing something right by reinstating this coach and then work on your integrity and honor, your view in this community is already low. Time for change.
Shane has been a powerful, positive force in the wrestling program. He's building enthusiasm in the community for the sport, helped guide the team to state last year as an assistant coach, and took even more boys this year as coach. Please reconsider the decision to let him go. We need more coaches like him.
I may not have any kids in school here anymore but I have friends that do and they have nothing but great things to say about this coach! I fully support any coach and or teacher that can have such an amazing impact on our children, even if MSD does not...Maybe kids would thrive and WANT to be there if we had more people like him in the schools..
Please contact your Moscow School Board Members and continue these great comments to them!
Keep Coach Needham!
Shane Needham is an amazing wrestling coach but more importantly an amazing role model and mentor to the student athletes. He has always put life lessons before wrestling accolades. Moscow High School does not have a long history of success in wrestling mostly because of the revolving door of coaches the students have unfortunately been exposed to (I had four coaches in the four years I wrestled for MHS). Coach Needham was there to change all that with the dedication, consistency and leadership that any administration would dream of in a coach. The amount of time & resources he has put into the program and the immediate positive impact he has had on student’s lives makes me question the motive behind the decision to not have him back. How is the administration not seeing the same positive impacts the rest of the Moscow community is?
He helped gain the recognition that the wrestling teams deserved.
I would love to see Shane continue the incredible success he's had with these kids.
It's the students who will suffer.
A great head coach who deserves to keep his position as the head coach!
Please keep him on!
We need good coaches in Moscow and I hope the community would do the same for any. Or make it known why he was let go.