While the Valdosta City School Board agreed to reconsider last month’s 5-4 vote to fire Valdosta High School head football coach Alan Rodemaker Tuesday night, the outcome was the same. Tuesday’s 5-4 vote reaffirmed its January 28 decision to relieve Rodemaker of his head coaching duties.
Hundreds of people showed-up in support of Rodemaker. About a dozen spoke on his behalf before Rodemaker himself addressed the board.
Coach Rodemaker is now on the podium. It looks like he will be the last public speaker. pic.twitter.com/DyBE1OwTax
— Lori Buhring (@loribuhring) February 12, 2020
Rodemaker’s legal team asked for the re-vote because it believes that the coach still hasn’t been given a reason for his dismissal.
“There wasn’t one single valid reason given by anyone in power. By anyone. No valid reason to why they took this action, especially in the face of a community that overwhelmingly supports this coach and his program. It’s a sad day in our community.”
Sam Dennis, Rodemaker’s attorney
Various media outlets have been reporting that Rodemaker’s dismissal has racial overtones, because those voting for his firing are African-American, while those supporting him are white.
Dennis says he will now go to the courts to fight for Rodemaker.
Rodemaker was hired as Valdosta’s head coach before the 2016 season. In his first season, he led the Wildcats to their first state title since 1998. That season, Valdosta finished No. 30 in the High School Football America national rankings. Rodemaker’s four-year record was 36-17, including a 10-3 mark this year. This year, the Wildcats climbed as high as No. 41 in the High School Football America 100.
