Some parents of Bayfield High School girls basketball players were back at the May 31 school board meeting to reiterate complaints about Coach Lana Killough. In response, the board tabled a vote on the 2016-17 coaching assignments. Killough was on that list.

The BHS coaching list was not on the agenda for the June 9 meeting, but an executive session was on the list "regarding BHS girls basketball coaching."

Parents first aired their complaints on April 26, as reported in the May 6 issue of the Pine River Times.

"We're in the same place with Lana," Tracie Baker said on May 31. She also spoke at the April meeting. "I've talked to three girls who said they would play if she didn't coach."

Laurie Roberts noted how well two of the girls who had trouble with Killough did in track and field. "They are coachable," she said.

The other two parents at the Tuesday evening meeting were not at the April 26 meeting. McKean Walton and Rick Johnson cited unresolved issues with Killough's predecessor Bri Simbeck as well.

"I've kept my mouth shut for two years," Walton said. "Now you are letting this happen again. Have you been to any of the games? You don't treat kids like that." He said he has coached many of the girls. He said he never saw or got reports of Baker's daughter or another girl being disrespectful to their coach. They lost respect for her because of the way they were treated, he asserted.

Johnson said his daughter quit the basketball team in mid-season after playing for three years. "She probably won't play basketball any more. She loved the game. She went to camps with the Ignacio team. She had a hard time with Bri and especially Lana." A coach should bring out the best in players, not the worst, he said. "These coaches brought out the worst."

Like Walton, Johnson said he has coached these girls. "They are good athletes. I hated to go to the games. At the end of the games I was disgusted."

The parents also challenged how coaches are chosen, alleging that good people applied but didn't get call-backs. "I keep being told people aren't applying," Baker said. I know two people who applied with more experience than Lana."

There were other coaching complaints as well.

Roberts said, "We came in to talk about wrestler concussions. There was no concern (from those in charge) about safety.... You may not know how much everybody in the area knows about what's happening in Bayfield. There was a huge volleyball tournament. I was asked what's going on with Bayfield wrestling. People from other communities are asking what the heck is happening in Bayfield."

Johnson added, "I hear that all the time."

When the coaching assignments came up on the May 31 agenda, Superintendent Troy Zabel recommended tabling them. "I think you had a lot to process tonight. There were things brought up that weren't heard before.

Board members agreed to table the coaching list, although board member Mike Foutz objected to bringing up issues from two years ago about a coach that is no longer with the district.

Killough did not respond to a request for comments.