Should Phil Shar continue as basketball coach at West Mifflin?

West Mifflin Superintendent Patrick Risha opened basketball coach Phil Shar's contract on May 27 after the coach made disparaging comments about the superintendent to local newspapers. The school board replaced him on June 30. Should the school board have retained Mr. Shar? [Read PG story.]

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 I have dealt with Mr. Shar professionally in the past, and found him extremely dedicated to his student-athletes.

Over the past decade or more, Mr. Risha has made his share of enemies as he has jumped from one position to the next in Clairton, McKeesport, South Allegheny and now West Mifflin.

I'm sure there is a lot more to this story than is being released to the public, but based on my personal observations along with the reputations of the individuals involved, I tend to believe Mr. Shar is being done a disservice in this instance.

 This is another episode of boys puffing their chests to show their egos...it happens far too much in sports, and now we have it in West Mifflin!  I agree that there is a lot more to this story. Shar has a good 4-year track record that has gone to his head.  Seems like he wants to be king now, and has not conducted himself professionally in the media.  I think the three-years-then-reapply solution seems fair enough.  If he's the best candidate in three years he'll be rehired!  He's not being done a disservice, he could be getting three free years without accountability.

 i think both risha and shar care for the students.  but you should not throw stones at those who have your job in their hands.  risha is good for the community and children. he's  trying to get the best for what is now his the titans

Mark my words.

Risha is on his way to getting another buy-out.  This time from W.M.

This is the groundwork for it.  This guy is dumb like a fox.  (Only heavier.)

Bossman Mike

Pertaining to Phil Shar...I was a 1993 graduate of West Mifflin Area High School and a student in Mr. Shar's Algebra class during my time at the H.S. Mr. Shar according to many blogs I have read is a good basketball coach and was a good track coach...this was evident as a student of his since he only provided the "best" service as a math teacher to those students who were his "basketball and or track team" students.  I am actually very happy to hear that Mr. Shar will be replaced as a coach for West Mifflin...for his un-professional, egotistical, and blatent disrepectfulness toward the Superintendent of West Mifflin....this type of behavior should not be tolerated by anyone and I am glad to see the Board of West Mifflin did the right thing and set a presidence for any employee who would like Shar tarnish the reputation of the West Mifflin Area School District....bravo, bravo, bravo.

 The actions by the West Mifflin school board proves we are loseing our freedom of speech in America, when an incompetent overweight school superintendent that doesnt show up in the school for work can fire an excellent teacher and proven athletic coach for speaking out publicly . Ugly politics as displayed by school board members is an example of why american school systems are failing our students. All the money in the world can never repair or replace the lack of discipline and incompetence of school management and political school boards. Phil Shar should keep his JOB!!!!! MR RISHA SHOULD BE BANNED FROM EVER BEING A SUPERINTENDENT OF ANY PUBLIC PA> SCHOOL SYSTEM!!!!!

I do not live in the West Mifflin School District, nor do I know any of the female basketball players, but I have been reading the recent articles on the fued between Phil Shar and Pat Risha. 

The school board should have retained Coach Shar.  His winning record and the respect of his players should outweigh the animosity between him and Superintendent Risha.

This proves that school boards are political machines--it's who you know and who likes you, regardless of an individual's skill or qualifications. 

I hope another local school district hires Coach Shar.  If it does, I will be in the stands, watching and cheering on his team. 

 This is a shame. Instead of holding our Superintendant accountable for his actions, we allow him to work from home. This is a man whom our children are supposed to respect? A man who cares so little about himself that he has gotten too fat to go to work? I'm supposed to trust the care of my dauighter to him? This is the sad state of america today. Now I'll probrably get sued for calling him fat.

Its apparent the GOOD BOYS and GALS are running West Mifflin politics and doing a very poor job.  They are running the school board like a high school students.  Making sound decision on name calling etc.. and not facts. the 5 that stick together should be ashamed of themselves.  The borough will never change without some good ethical people on the school board.

I have had the opportunity to play for Coach Shar in the mid 90s. I will say no one demand more out of his players than he does.  He also bring out the best in every athlete he has coached.  I do feel that he got too big for his britches and signed a few checks his behind couldn't cash... 

You can't talk bad about you boss in every media outlet available and think you can get away with it.. Like Mr. Risha or not, everyone knows he runs the show, so you have to fall in line accordingly.  Coach Shar got himself fired through his actions against his boss...  Knowing West Mifflin like I know West Mifflin, he would have kept his job after the 3 year window if he wouldn't kept his mouth shut and coached up his girls..

I feel sorry for the kids because at the end of the day, they suffer..  The grown ups in this equation should have thought about that before they started making drama for themselves.  But this is also a prime example why West Mifflin H.S., even with all the good athletes, they never win anything.. Politics as Usual!!!

 anyone who has lived in the west mifflin to clairton area should know by now whn "the risha" comes to your school its his way or the highway.  he does good for all students i know because i was one.  he earns and demands the respect of those around him especially the kids. west mifflin should be thrilled to have him .with a weight problem. go bears,titans and risha from one of your past success stories.  you are still the man.

 All that I can say is that what goes around...comes around Phil.  He should have concentrated on his teaching career, rather than his coaching career.  I personally had and faultered in his classes.  The man read from a book ---point blank.  He was not a professional educator in my opinion.  His teaching style lacked unless you benifited him...via sports.  He only cared about his coaching career and not his actual students.  SAD SAD SAD...

I am an educator and I pride myself on reaching those who need help.  Mr. Shar never took the time to reach the needy.  His method of just turning a blind eye to those in need was sad.  It taught me to be a better teacher from past poor experiences.  He just wanted to shine in his sports accomplishments....could it be he was trying to make up from his past? 

I am not happy with Mr. Risha's preformance as a leader...but this time...he got it right.  Now mayne he can actually come into work the the rest of the world and do his job. 

 Years of his rude comments, poor professionalism, and lack luster personality finally shows me that....What goes around Phil will eventually come around and get you.   

Truly,

Karma from a past student and Clover Crest neighbor

 I would like to commend Mrs Olasz for speaking up not only as a board member but as a parent.  She is truly there for all the right reasons.  Her children are her life and that is a terrific quality in a board member and a person.  I was in attendance at the meeting and heard disparaging comments from Mr Shar's wife and other parents between meetings.  One of them being a boys parents mother.  They should be ashamed to speak of peoples privates lives that they have no knowledge of.  How would they feel if their child heard these comments about them.  These parents who claim to be there "for the children" had no problem talking about the mother of 3 children.  Mrs Shar continued to voice negative remarks about Mrs Olasz to a group of parents she did not know.  I personally overheard these comments and was completely infuriated.  Mr Shar deserves what he fot if he is anything like his wife.

"has not conducted himself professionally in the media"

Has Mr. Risha or Mrs. Olasz conducted themselves properly?

"If he's the best candidate in three years he'll be rehired!"

What do you mean by "best"?  Mr. Shar's and Mr. Staples coaching credentials are far superior to Ms. McClelland's yet she received the position.  Does "best" mean "most qualified" or "what Risha wants"?

In three years the "teacher gets first dibbs" clause will have been fully into effect.