Mira Costa administration conducts review of baseball program

By Joani Gillam and Taylor St. Germain
News Editors

The Mira Costa administration is conducting a review of the baseball program regarding concerns from parents of the baseball players, according to an email Principal Dr. Ben Dale sent to baseball parents on Nov. 14.

Dale, Vice Principal Ian Drummond, Athletic Director Don Morrow, and assistant coaches are planning to interview each member of the baseball team during the review, Dale wrote in the email.

“I have directed coach (Cassidy) Olsen to have no contact with players or parents during the course of the review,” Dale said in the email to parents. “Assistant coaches under the direction of Coach Morrow will be managing the 6th period workouts.”

Dale would not confirm the reason for the review of the program, but the decision to undergo the interviews was made two weeks after Manhattan Beach Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews received a letter from lawyer Joseph DiMonda, concerning multiple allegations against Olson of physical and verbal abuse towards the players.

“I’m extremely grateful that the administration is going to interview every player to make sure the truth comes out,” Olson said. “These are serious allegations and obviously everyone wants the actual facts.”

According to junior Jordan Bremer, several players are in full support of Olson.

“Olson is a caring coach that puts in a tremendous amount of time for the team,” Bremer said. “I think he is a passionate man that makes his players his priority and he does not deserve to be fired.”

Junior Austin Yamada believes the main opponents against Olson are seniors, parents, and families no longer in the program.

“From personal experience on the team, I’ve seen things that would fit those descriptions [within the allegations], and some things I have not seen,” senior Carter Casady said. “Some of it may be exaggerated and some may be true. That’s their decision to make within the review.”

According to Dale, any changes to the baseball program will only be made after all consenting players have been interviewed.

“All Costa sports programs undergo changes,” Dale said. “The reason this is different is because of the third party’s involvement and the push to make this a public matter.”