October 28, 2017
To: Mrs. Carmela Cotter
Head Principal
Middletown High Schoo!
From: T. Lance Engleka
Head Football Coach
Middletown High School
Re: Head Football Coaching Position
To Whom It May Concern;
| hereby resign my position as Head Football Coach at Middletown High School. The online death
threats, threats of physical violence, personal and deceitful attacks from parents and community
‘members, and verbal abuse leveled against myself, my family, and my coaching staff have devolved into
an unsafe environment which | refuse to tolerate. These threats of physical harm and verbal abuse stem
from the misguided community perspective on the irrational importance on winning high schoo! football
games, unrealistic expectations from parents related to their son's abilities and future prospects, and
parental belief that bullying coaches is an acceptable method of communication. | understand the high-
Profile nature and acceptable criticism associated with being the head football coach at Middletown
High School, however, winning and losing at the high school level should not be a life-threatening
situation. | would like to thank Head Principal Carmela Cotter, Assistant Principal(s) Anna Bowman, J
Lail, Larry Kozlowski, Assistant Athletic Director Matt Louis, and Athletic Department Secretary Jayna
Vaughn for their unwavering support. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as the head football coach
for the past two years,
Respectfully,
rsa
Ju
Telance Engleka
(former) Head Football Coach
Dean of Students
Middletown High School