Amid Rumors of Parent Anger Over Playing Time, Braintree Girls Basketball Coach Kristen McDonnell Resigns

BRAINTREE, MA — After eight years at the helm of the Braintree girls basketball team, head coach Kristen McDonnell is calling it a day.

McDonnell recently resigned from her post, following a season that saw the Wamps make a run to the Division 1 state championship game.

"It is with a very heavy heart that I announce my resignation as the girls basketball coach at BHS. I consider myself the luckiest person out there to have been afforded the opportunity to coach such incredible players & people over the past 8 years. I'm also so fortunate to have coached alongside an amazing staff and to have coached under the leadership of the best AD & true friend, Mike Denise. Thank you to the Braintree community, Wamp nation!" McDonnell wrote on Twitter.

While the news is surprising, sources tell the Boston Herald and the Patriot Ledger that there may have been issues surrounding the program, with some in the crowd reportedly not happy with how the coach distributed playing time and one person describing the situation as a "parent revolt."

McDonnell confirmed Wednesday that was part of the reason she left Braintree.

"Please know what none of this has anything to do with the seniors or other players on my team. They have shown nothing but respect, class, and high character over 4 years and I've been lucky enough to coach them. I have a great relationship with all of them and they have been a huge reason that I love coaching. This concerns only a select few parents and should not represent the rest of the players, parents, BHS athletics program, or the town of Braintree," she wrote on Twitter.

During McDonnell's tenure, the Wamps won back-to-back state titles and went on a 63-game winning streak.

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