After 39 years and more than in high school basketball, including three provincial championships, Pitt Meadows basketball coach Rich Goulet will no longer be beside the bench.

He害羞草研究所檚 not happy about the way he has been asked to leave, and neither are many of the Marauders害羞草研究所� alumni.

Parents from last year害羞草研究所檚 team complained to administration, and Goulet has been 害羞草研究所渇ired害羞草研究所� from the program he built.

Mike Alain was selected for Goulet害羞草研究所檚 first Grade 7 all-star team, and was coached by him from 1994 to 2000 害羞草研究所� a run that ended in a provincial championship.

害羞草研究所淚 couldn害羞草研究所檛 appreciate him more,害羞草研究所� said Alain. 害羞草研究所淢y mom has reiterated to me many times that I probably would not have graduated if not for him.害羞草研究所�

The headstrong Alain clashed with Goulet, who sometimes yelled until he lost his voice during a game. But Alain never felt Goulet was treating him unfairly.

He said Goulet deserves accolades and to retire on his own terms 害羞草研究所� not to be forced out of the game.

害羞草研究所淚t makes me sick to my stomach,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hat high school owes him. How is that gym not named after him?害羞草研究所�

Bruce Duthie was coached by Goulet from the age of nine until he graduated 害羞草研究所� also part of that 1992 team.

害羞草研究所淚 have a huge degree of respect for him,害羞草研究所� he said of Goulet, and would like to see him honoured on his way out.

害羞草研究所淗e pushed us, he was in our face, he worked our asses off, but it was never to the point of, This isn害羞草研究所檛 right.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

But some of the kids on last year害羞草研究所檚 senior team were not used to it, and Goulet believes that害羞草研究所檚 part of why he was asked to quit coaching.

害羞草研究所淭hey think I was negative, because I gave a lot of speeches about what they needed to do to get better.害羞草研究所�

Goulet outlines a frustrating season, where many of his Grade 12 players were simply not willing to work up to the standards of the program. He said he had to fight with players, and bench them, to get 害羞草研究所渁 basic effort.

害羞草研究所淲e weren害羞草研究所檛 even competitive at triple-A 害羞草研究所� My goodness.害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 never ask anyone to like me when I coach them. I just ask them to do what I want them to do.Maybe I got cranky.害羞草研究所�

If he crossed a line, he said some of the players were also disrespectful to him.

His assistant coach, Ron Wallsmith, doesn害羞草研究所檛 recall any incident that would have led to Goulet losing his status as coach.

害羞草研究所淭hose things don害羞草研究所檛 stand out in my mind,害羞草研究所� he said.

Goulet said the school board conducted an investigation into parent complaints, and afterward he was asked to return and help run the program 害羞草研究所� but not on the bench.

害羞草研究所淲hy would I do that? You just fired me as a coach,害羞草研究所� he said.害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not here to impose myself to people who don害羞草研究所檛 want me.害羞草研究所�

Neither the school board nor Pitt Meadows secondary principal Mike Keenan would comment, saying personnel matters must remain confidential.

Goulet feels he was not given a fair hearing. He had been retired from teaching for 14 months, coaching as a volunteer, and says the school administration can dismiss a volunteer at a whim.

Walton said coaches around the province have pulled out of Pitt Meadows害羞草研究所� annual Air Show Tournament, and threaten to boycott games against Pitt Meadows. Their schedule could be affected.

Goulet is going to miss it.

害羞草研究所淚 won害羞草研究所檛 miss all the work, or going to practice at 7 a.m. in a freezing gym,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ut I love basketball, and I love people who love basketball.害羞草研究所�

Goulet害羞草研究所檚 accomplishments:

害羞草研究所� ;

害羞草研究所� ;

害羞草研究所� Three-time provincial champion coach;

害羞草研究所� Coached approx. 4,000 games at all levels;

害羞草研究所� Has been coaching high school basketball in 1965;

害羞草研究所� Coached provincial and national teams;

害羞草研究所� Founded and administered the Steve Nash Youth Basketball league in Pitt Meadows.