In a matter of weeks, maybe less, Perry High School will have a wrestling coach.
It might be Dave Riggs.
It probably won’t.
Riggs, one of the best high school wrestling coaches in the country, has applied for his old job. He wants to take over the Panthers job he stepped down from in 2003.
The problem is the same people who put him on paid administrative leave, then suspended him three days for misuse of booster club funds, are hiring the new coach. Riggs, through attorneys Lee Plakas and Gary Corroto, contends his suspension was based on misleading and factually incorrect information.
He has some points. He may not have others.
For example, the district said that Riggs’ stepson, Clint Musser, was paid $40,000 for working wrestling clinics. He was ” over the course of three years, though that amount of money isn’t far off what should be expected, nor did it come from tax money. It came from fees collected from wrestlers at the camps. The district even paid Musser from an account established with a $25,000 donation from Lowe’s to the wrestling booster club.
If Riggs is not hired, one of two things could happen.
Riggs could file a grievance, a process that could aid in a civil lawsuit. Plakas and Corroto are laying the groundwork for such a case.
Parents, wrestlers and supporters of the program are going to have a hard time accepting a program without Riggs. He was Perry’s head coach for 17 years, building the program into the public-school version of Lakewood St. Edward’s program.
Does Riggs have a shot of being hired by new Superintendent John Richard? He is, ultimately, the one who suspended Riggs in the first place?
“You would hope the focus is on what’s in the best interest of Perry wrestlers,” Corroto said. “If they focus on that, he’s the obvious choice for the job.”
Riggs asked that Richard and Assistant Superintendent Jim Hodinka recuse themselves from the interview process. They didn’t. Riggs interviewed Friday.
That’s an indication he will not be hired.
We’ve heard former Perry state champion Brent McBurney has applied, as well as another coach from outside the district, possibly Maple Heights, a district in which Richard has connections.
Perry police still are investigating if there was misuse of funds. Riggs, his attorneys said, hasn’t misused any funds. The camps Musser was paid to conduct brought in more money than was paid out.
The structure of the Perry Wrestling Booster Club, however, could cause Riggs problems. According to the district, a one-officer club treasurer signed blank checks that Riggs later filled out. Again, attorneys said, Riggs never misused money, which went to the program, not the coach.
What more likely is happening is a new administration would like to gain control over the program. The tail shouldn’t wag the dog. Riggs recommended the last two head coaches, Musser and Brian Dolph, and both were relieved of duties. Those recommendations have caused the district embarrassment.
Musser stole a truck and led police on a chase, and Dolph resigned last month for undisclosed reasons.
Riggs has requested documents the district based its finding on. Those have not come. Therefore he has not formally and completely responded to the allegations.
“Dave’s intention is to get all the information requested so that we may respond, clear his name and have that letter of reprimand expunged from his file,” Corroto said. “One option if we can’t deal with this by dealing with the district is we could be forced into litigation.”
Corroto knows his mats
Riggs and Corroto have known each other for years, and their connection was formed ” where else? ” at a wrestling tournament. Corroto’s stepson, Dave Rella, was a state runner-up last year at 145 pounds. Rella wrestles for Walsh Jesuit, one of the state’s best Division II programs.
“I’ve admired Dave Riggs and the way he coaches and runs a program for many years,” Corroto said.
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