ALAMANCE COUNTY, N.C. — A crowd of people gathered in support of a Triad football coach who's been suspended from teaching without pay and removed as a coach.
Walter Friedrich Hessenthaler, better known as Coach Fritz, the former head football coach at Southern Alamance High School, was removed this past week.
WFMY News 2's Nixon Norman reached out to Fritz, and although he didn't comment on his removal, a group of people rallied, hoping Fritz would return pending the investigation.
People at Tuesday's rally for Fritz said this all started due to rumors about him being violent with senior football player Chandler Clontz.
While Clontz does admit the coach grabbed his collar, he said it's just his coaching style. He also said when he yells, the team typically does better.
He, alongside many of those in Tuesday's crowd, calls it a form of tough love.
“When he yelled at me that night he goes, 'Why are we not trying?' He says that because he knows that this year's team has the talent to go all the way this year and win it all," Clontz said. "I was not upset about it because I knew that because we played Western and we played really bad, I knew he was going to yell at us and it was not really an upset thing. I wouldn't have told my mom because it was not that serious and I knew what to expect. I'm a four-year varsity starter. I know it's to be expected of me and I wasn't doing it."
Clontz's aunt, Susan Shronce-Hudson, who is a Southern Alamance mother herself, said she was upset at first hearing about the rumors but as soon as she had a conversation with her nephew her position changed, as she is now leading the pack demanding Fritz back.
"It upset me when I heard the lies. When I talked to Chandler, he told me really what happened. No, I was not upset. I think that it needed to take place. There was nothing wrong. I mean I just watched a football game last night where the coach grabbed the boy's helmet at eight years old. Okay? What’s the difference in that? I mean it’s tough love. When a true coach sees potential in their athletes, that’s what Coach Fritz does," Shronce-Hudson said.
After the school administration heard rumors about a more violent encounter between Clontz and Fritz, the district said a three-day investigation took place.
In a statement, ABSS said:
We believe it is necessary to provide clarity regarding the recent removal of the Southern Alamance High School Head Football Coach. On the evening of October 30, ABSS administrators were alerted by the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office of some concerns related to a staff member, Walter Friedrich Hessenthaler, at Southern Alamance High School.
Staff immediately opened an investigation which included multiple interviews and conversations with students, staff, administrators, and families. These interviews continued over three days.
As a result, he was removed from his coaching position on November 3. There is never a good time to release information such as this. However, we completed the investigation process by notifying those impacted as soon as possible.
Additionally, we advised the Sheriff’s Department of our findings as a follow-up to their initial notification.
ABSS puts the highest priority on student safety and well-being while also holding our employees to the highest possible standard in professional conduct. Since Superintendent Dr. Butler announced this strict stance against misconduct last September, we have acted on numerous reports resulting in student long-term suspensions and appropriate consequences for staff.
We will continue to uphold high standards across the District and provide a safe, nurturing environment for all students.
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Several students and staff were interviewed. The senior captain of the football team said he among other teammates was not interviewed. He believes they should have been.
“Coach Fritz has poured a lot of time and effort into each one of us and for us not to get a chance to be heard on anything, it's upsetting,” Senior Football Captain, Wesley Smith said. "It wasn’t out of anger. It was to motivate us; to be our very best and it wasn’t rough. I wouldn’t call it rough. It was tough. It was to get us to be the best that we can be because we had a big playoff game and leagues beyond football."
Coach Fritz's role as head coach was considered an 'added duty' by the district, where there is no formal process of removing him and possibly approving him to come back.
He was also suspended from a teaching role without pay which could result in him coming back to the school if reviewed and approved.
"ABSS puts the highest priority on student and staff safety; that's something that we talk about all the time, and last fall we had several issues involving students. Dr. Butler came out our superintendent with a zero-tolerance stance against any kind of violence or any threats of violence within the district, and that goes for anyone that goes for students and staff."
Fritz will be able to appeal his removal at a later date.