Paramus Looks for Answers As Beloved Baseball Coach Does Not Get Reappointed

Jon Morrisette has been a beloved Paramus High School educator for 13 years, junior varsity baseball coach for 10 years and the varsity coach for 3 years.

Under his direction, the Paramus High School Baseball team has won two league championships and one state sectional championship. Morrisette has been twice named coach of the year, and was The Record’s North Jersey coach of the year in 2013.

But there has been some tension in the community now that Morrisette has not been reappointed as Paramus High School’s Varity Baseball Coach.

Many are looking for answers but, some say, none have been given.

Some baseball parents speculate Board of Education President Joanne Bergmann is upset her grandson didn’t get enough playing time and that Jeff Warren, a Paramus Board of Education Board Member, is upset his son got cut from the team.

But Joanne Bergmann says this is untrue.

“In 30 years, I have never asked for any special treatment for my children or my grandchildren,” Bergmann said.

Similarly, Warren says he really wasn’t upset that his son was cut.

“I was disappointed for my son, but I was no way upset because I didn’t want him to go out for the team,” Warren said.

But after receiving approval for reappointment from the Paramus High School athletic director and superintendent, Morrisette himself wonders: Why was he not renewed as the varsity coach and why was he never told the reason?

“I am stunned by the board’s decision to not reappoint me as head baseball coach and have not been given an explanation as to why this judgment was made,” said a statement from Coach Morrisette.

Morrisette said he has never violated any district policies and has received nothing but favorable evaluations.

If there were problems, some wonder why Morrisette was still kept as the coach for the high school’s bowling and girls tennis teams.

“If there’s a coach that’s abusive to players, you remove him from one team and not let him go until he [finishes coaching] two [other] teams?” a concerned baseball parent questioned.

Some parents believe Bergmann violated the parent/coach communication protocol, which states, “the parent should always approach the coach first with any questions or concerns before going to the Athletic Director, Principal, or Superintendent.”

Bergmann says this claim is completely untrue. But Tom Palestina, a Paramus resident, accused “some [of having] gone directly to the superintendent and not going through [the correct] process,” according to meeting minutes from a June 23 meeting. The superintendent, Kenneth Rota, did not return calls from Patch.

The community has not been shy in voicing their discontentment at Board of Education meetings.

“All season the coach has been under siege,” said Dave Ferrarra, another Paramus resident, during the June 23 meeting. “There has been a calculated destruction of the coach’s reputation.”

Ferrarra also “addressed Bergmann directly and indicated how she and her husband have gone after the coach all year,” according to the meeting minutes.

But Bergmann “denied the comments attributed to her and her husband.”

Baseball parents also allege Warren conducted his own investigation and called past parents to ask whether their sons were verbally abused while playing under Morrisette.

“Mr. Warren investigated an incident directly, and there is a problem with that process,” Ferrara said according to meeting minutes.

But Warren says the truth got twisted.

Warren, who has been involved with the Paramus baseball program, says he only called a parent to “refute the situation” after having numerous parents reach out to him about their children’s treatment while on the baseball team.

And if that weren’t enough, baseball parents are also unhappy with the way Morrisette was let go.

During the Board of Education meeting, four board members allegedly voted “yes” for Morrisette’s reappointment, while others, including Bergmann and Warren, abstained from voting. In order for a faculty member’s job to be retained, at least five members must vote yes. Since only four voted yes, there were not enough votes to pass.

“Is it ethical, it is fair if you only have four people voting?” asked a concerned parent of a Paramus High School Baseball player.

But according to Warren, he and Bergmann recused themselves from voting after a parent suggested they do so at a meeting. Proving true, meeting minutes say “Mr. Ferrara also asked that Mrs. Bergmann and Mr. Warren recuse themselves from this vote.”

Bergmann adds she recused herself from voting on Morrisette’s renewal “in order to avoid any appearance of impropriety or bias.”

But as for Coach Morrisette, he says the Board of Edudcation even went as far as rescinding the RICE letter they served him in June, which would have informed him that he would be the topic of discussion at the board meeting.

During the meeting, some came forward and accused Morrisette of embarrassing players, only caring about winning and favoritism, according to meeting minutes.

But Joe Garcia, Paramus Council Liaison, asked during the meeting if Morrisette had been served RICE papers and “accused Mrs. Bergmann of curtailing comments for others and not those speakers who agreed with her.”

The Board’s Code of Ethics and Certifications states “...the Board of Education ... will make no personal promises nor take any private action, which may compromise the board” and “[They] will refuse to surrender ... independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or the gain of friends.”

But denying all allegations, Bergmann told Patch, “You don’t stay on the Board for 30 years and have the public return you for 11 elections if you’re self-serving.”

“The public has always had confidence in me because I do what’s best for [this community],” Bergmann said.

And although Morrisette says he was never given notice or an opportunity to defend himself, he said he still asked to speak to the board on several occasions and was shut down each time. Bergmann could not comment on the topic.

What is more, before Morrisette cut players from the team – including Warren’s son - he said he went to the superintendent and asked if he would support his decision. The superintendent agreed. But then Monday came along, and the superintendent – after having a meeting the night before - asked Morrisette why he cut the seniors.

“Whatever they’re saying is not true,” Bergmann said. “I stand on my record.”

Although the Paramus community is outraged over Morrisette’s nonrenewal, the main people affected by all this are the baseball players, some of which should be worrying about applying to college, SATs, winter workouts and being recruited, parents say. Instead, they are focusing on ways to get Coach Morrisette back.

“They’re a mess right now,” said one baseball parent.

Another concerned parent of a senior wonders whom college recruiters will be able to call since Morrisette may not be able to speak on their behalf.

“It’s unfortunate that those negatively impacted the most by the board’s actions are the players,” Morrisette said in a statement. “With 3 months to go before the season starts, I hope the seniors can keep the program together until a head coach is hired.”

“I could only imagine the stress they are feeling right now [and] I wish them the best of luck,” Morrisette said. “My heart goes out to them.”

Pictured: Paramus High School students wear shirts in support of Coach Morrisette. Photo credit: Jason Klein.