Feature on Recruiting Not a Pretty Story

I was very disappointed to see a three-column story on assistant football coach John Hazelton of Montclair Prep High (Oct. 22). I personally take it as an insult to all of the honest coaches in high school basketball, football, baseball and all sports that the story was written.

For every coach who recruits players, there are many out there who take the kids they are entitled to and win with them when they are good or lose with them when they are bad. Winning with a stacked deck brings no satisfaction.

I’m a coach who has worked for 20 years in this Valley. I’m discouraged that there wasn’t an article written on what a great job some other coach has done, one who is clean. There are hundreds of those guys out there who do it the hard way--with honesty and hard work.

Sure, Montclair Prep wins Southern Section championships. Heck, if I had a recruiter, boy would we be good every year.

The story has no redeeming value. We’re making a hero of a guy who’s not even a head coach. The coaches who are squeaky clean are the heroes.

JOHN CLARK, Basketball coach, Saugus High. Editor’s note: Clark was The Times ‘ Valley Edition basketball coach of the year in 1987.