By Matthew Stanmyre and Steve Politi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on April 12, 2017 at 10:20 PM, updated April 13, 2017 at 8:24 AM
PATERSON — Two Paterson Eastside coaches and the high school’s athletic director were fired Wednesday night at an often-contentious board of education meeting.
The board terminated Juan Griles, the head coach of the boys team, assistant coach Alberto Maldonado and athletic director Gregory Cooper. The actions came 10 weeks after NJ Advance Media published the first article in a series of investigations into the powerhouse boys and girls teams.
The articles exposed how both teams stocked their rosters with international players, often with promises and living accommodations that have drawn accusations of human trafficking. The stories also sparked investigations by the state’s governing body for high school sports and the Division of Child Protection and Permanency.
Both the girls and boys teams abruptly ended their seasons in February, pulling out of the state tournament shortly after the coaching suspensions were announced amid the multiple investigations.
On Wednesday, Victoria Oquendo, whose son was cut from the Eastside boys team, admonished the board for a lack of oversight in allowing coaches to lure international stars to Paterson, taking opportunities away from teens who have lived in the district.
“The children were hurt by this,” Oquendo said. “My son was hurt by this. I watched my son try out for this team. I watched him have the incentive to go hard. I watched it taken from him.”
After her allotted three minutes of speaking time, many people in attendance burst into applause.
No tienen verguenza !