Hinsdale Central Coaches Resign After Parent Complaints

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale Central High School's girls basketball coaches resigned last month after parents apparently complained about the head coach to the administration.

Through a public records request, Patch obtained correspondence from the days leading up to the resignations.

Head coach Erin Navolio and assistant coaches Brian Mitchell and Allison Rogala left their positions Dec. 4. A day later, they turned in identical one-sentence resignation letters.

This happened just days after administrators apparently received a letter from parents dated Dec. 1. It was titled, "Hinsdale Central Girls Basketball Program Concerns."

The letter said "we are demanding the immediate firing" of Navolio. The document contains no signatures, but refers to "our girls," indicating they were parents.

The letter complained that Navolio created a "toxic, non-supportive environment." It further said she showed emotional immaturity and could not connect with high school girls at "this level of play."

The document also said Navolio, who was in her second year as the head coach, undermined parental oversight and lacked basic communication skills.

Messages left with Navolio and her two assistants on Tuesday were not returned.

On the morning of Dec. 4 – hours before the resignations – assistant coaches Brian Mitchell and Allison Rogala defended the head coach in an email to Athletic Director Mike Jezioro.

They thanked the director for his support of the players and the program. And they said the team was off to a good start and that the head coach had their "full support."

"As an alumna of the HC basketball program, Coach Navolio has unique insight," the assistant coaches said. "She empowers her players to share how they feel, to advocate for themselves, and to take accountability for their contributions to the team and season. She has always encouraged the players to keep an open line of communication with the staff."

The coaches also said Navolio has developed specific practice plans to address the team's weaknesses.

"She reminds the girls they don't have to be perfect, but they have to be improving," they said. "She works on playing rotations to put players in the best position for success."

On the same day, Navolio wrote to Jezioro about her team. She thanked him for his "100%" support and documented an incident involving an unruly spectator at a game.

"I was not expecting this many parent issues so early in the season," she said in an email. "I'm trying to create a new relationship with the team from last year and work on the issues that were brought to my attention."

The parental letter presented a different view. It said Navolio used a "teardown" approach, with no effort to build up the girls.

"Most every practice and game there are multiple players that come out crying," the letter said. "There is consistent and constant examples of Coach not providing properly for the players' 'social and emotional needs.' Coach has berated girls in the middle of games – how does that approach inspire 'confidence and excellence?' Concern that there is emotional abuse."

The letter alleged that in two cases, Novolio spoke negatively about parental involvement. In one case, the letter said, she told the players not to listen to their parents if their parents think they should be coached differently.

The letter also took issue with particular playing strategies, the win-loss record and the scheduling of events. It also alleged there was "little or no tape review" of opponents before games.

The document stated parents tried to help Novolio by introducing a free coaching resource, but she did not follow up. It also said they paid for fall open gym sessions on the weekends.

"Girls that love basketball are questioning whether to continue – player retention is at a critical point," the letter said. "At least 5 key girls that played last season did not return because of the negative culture and approach by Coach."

On Nov. 29, a Clarendon Hills resident emailed Jezioro, the athletic director, about a "player safety issue" with the team.

"Unfortunately, this is not something I feel comfortable discussing with the coaching staff," the resident said.

Jezioro responded, "If this is concerning safety, I would rather talk sooner rather than later."

Patch left a message for comment Wednesday morning with the resident.

Navolio is a teacher at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in La Grange, while Mitchell and Rogala are both Central teachers.

The school hired interim coaches a few days after the resignations.

It was unclear whether the district pressured Navolio or the other coaches to resign.

On Wednesday, Patch left an emailed message for comment with interim Superintendent Raymond Lechner.