MONROE — After an investigation that began before the football season and has lasted into the offseason, it seemed halfway appropriate: Monroe’s Board of Education was in executive session for over three hours on Monday night discussing the fate of Masuk football coach Steve Christy.
When they emerged back into the Masuk library, the saga continued. The board’s attorney, Steve Sedor, recommended tabling a motion to decide whether to keep or fire Christy.
The board voted in favor of that motion to table, with one member against and two abstaining, as over a hundred Christy supporters shouted some variation of “Are you kidding me?” most with an interjection in the middle.
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It had been hoped that a final call would end an investigation into the team and coaches that has stretched from summertime into winter.
Christy came out of executive session a little after 9:15 p.m., almost two hours after they went in, and he said he expected to know within 10 minutes. It took another hour and change not to get a resolution.
“I can’t comment on anything that was discussed in executive session,” board chair David Ferris said after the meeting. “I will say we had a very good conversation with Mr. Christy and his attorney. (That) caused a long dialog in the executive session about what they said, taking what they said very seriously.
“I apologize for the delay,” he added. “That’s why we need to come back, so we can debate it further and seriously consider what we’ve looked at in the report and the exhibits and to further consider what Mr. Christy and his attorney told us.”
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Christy said he couldn’t discuss what was discussed, either.
“I’m going to continue to trust the process,” he said. “I believe in this town and I believe in the process. The truth will set me free. I’m so overwhelmed at the amount of support. I love this town and always will.”
The board's next regular meeting is Jan. 2. Ferris said he expects to schedule a special meeting for further discussion and a possible resolution.
Christy, who took over the team in 2021, and longtime Masuk assistant coach and teacher Eric Giordano were placed on administrative leave over the summer when the board opened an investigation into the team and coaches.
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Ferris said last week that the investigation report is in the board’s attorney’s possession. Hearst Connecticut Media has requested a copy when it becomes available.
When Christy came out of the executive session, he thanked the large crowd for sticking around, said he’d be fine whatever happened and urged those present to respect the board’s decision and not to criticize the board. He also several times stuck up for Monroe superintendent Joe Kobza.
“I’ll never forget you and I love all of you,” Christy told the crowd. “No matter what happens, we handle it like Masuk.”
When the board arrived a little over 75 minutes later and put off the verdict, some supporters listened to Christy. Many weren’t so calm. He tried again to calm them down as the board tried to go on with the meeting, but shouts continued. One young man, clearly joking, lifted a folding chair; Christy yelled to put it down.
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Ferris said he’d have to clear the room for disturbing a public meeting. The shouts lasted a few more minutes before Christy asked the crowd to let the board do its job, and most left.
Christy alleged in a letter to the community last week that those involved dragged out the investigation process, and he has reiterated that he had no plans to resign.
Christy, speaking Monday in public participation, wondered why the board hadn’t asked him in earlier.
“We’re five months into this, it’s the first time I’m looking at some of your eyes,” he said.
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The coaching situation took twists through the season. Brian Halapin was named interim head coach during the summer.
Halapin – who resigned in early November when Giordano resigned – in public participation read an email that he said he had sent Aug. 18, four months to the day before the meeting, in which he expressed concern about how long the investigation was taking and its handling.
The in-season drama included a potential forfeit at Brookfield, but assistant Jeff Lever took over as the team’s second interim head coach, several alumni came in to help coach the rest of the season, and the team won four in a row to reach the CIAC Class MM semifinals. Masuk finished 9-3.
Christy’s teams went 9-3 in 2021 and 8-4 in 2022, reaching the Class L semifinals in 2021 and, after the playoffs expanded, the Class MM semifinals in 2022.
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“I want to be your coach next year,” Christy told his players Momday night while speaking in public participation. “I want to put that on record. I will not quit. You (the board) will have to fire me. And if they ask you how you’re going to be next year, your answer is real simple: You already know. We’re built for this. We’re about to go on a revenge tour and win a state championship.”
Dec 19, 2023
Michael Fornabaio is a sports reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group. Born in the Bronx and raised at the New Haven Coliseum (but really in Orange), Fornabaio has been with the Connecticut Post since 1997. He has covered high school sports for pretty much that whole time, though he also covered the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers daily for 17 years. In his occasional free time, you can usually find him watching more baseball or hockey and complaining about the delay-of-game rule.