For every defensive rebound the Jefferson High School boys basketball team allowed to Arcadia Valley in a 58-48 loss last week, the Blue Jays had to run a lap up and down the court during practice on Monday. They made the baseline to baseline trip 15 times.
It was new interim head coach Jason Dreyer’s way to shore up his team’s effort around the glass. Dreyer, the school’s athletic director, has taken over the head coaching position following Nic Zenker’s resignation.
The Jefferson R-7 Board of Education voted unanimously at a Jan. 2 special meeting to accept Zenker’s resignation and place him on paid administrative leave as head coach and teacher for the remainder of the 2017-2018 school year. In a separate unanimous vote, the board approved a separation agreement between Zenker and the school. Zenker earned $43,250 as a teacher and a coaching stipend of $5,480.
Zenker began his sixth season as the varsity boys head coach this school year. He had a career record of 57-73 at Jefferson.
On Dec. 22, two days after Zenker submitted his letter of resignation to Jefferson officials, the school district released a statement regarding Zenker.
“Several weeks ago a complaint was raised involving (Zenker),” the statement said. “The complaint was fully investigated by district administrators. At the conclusion of the investigation, (Zenker) inquired whether it was possible to enter into a separation agreement. At that point, both parties mutually agreed into the settlement agreement and it was approved by the board and (Zenker).”
Neither Zenker nor Jefferson R-7 Superintendent Clint Johnston would explain what led to the school’s investigation. Johnston said it’s school district policy to not discuss personnel matters concerning its employees.
Zenker declined to meet a Leader reporter or answer questions on the phone, but he emailed the Leader answers to questions regarding his agreement with the district.
“Although a difficult decision, my family thought it was in our best interest to mutually enter into a separation agreement with Jefferson,” Zenker said in the email.
When asked what his plans were, Zenker said, “It is hard for me to imagine a life without teaching and coaching, as I truly love my job. My life, as with my wife and kids’ lives, has been molded in such a positive and profound way by the game of basketball, that it would be something that would be hard to not continue to pursue.”
Zenker stated he and his family have received an outpouring of texts, emails and phone calls from former players, students, coaches and community members in the last several weeks.
“That really makes you realize what coaching and teaching are all about and would make this a hard profession to ever leave,” he said.
The Leader obtained a copy of the separation agreement from Jefferson R-7 on Monday. In it, both parties agreed that Zenker will be paid his salary and benefits through the end of the school year. Zenker is not allowed on the campus without prior approval from Johnston unless one of his children is involved in after-school activities.
Zenker is not to provide assistance to any of the teams in the Blue Jays’ district that remain on their schedule.
The agreement also says both the school district and Zenker are to refrain from negatively communicating about each other. If Zenker doesn’t comply, he could lose his severance payments. If Zenker violates this part of the agreement, the district could provide the community with summary facts of the investigation. If a mutually determined arbiter finds the district guilty of the same, Zenker could be paid $5,000 per violation.
Dreyer, who will continue as the head basketball coach until the season is over, said the school will search for a new head coach after the season concludes. He said he volunteered to finish the season because the Blue Jays were playing well and it was in their best interest to avoid playing under a third coach this season. The Blue Jays had a record of 8-6 as of Monday and were 6-3 with Dreyer coaching them.
“When I was the varsity girls coach, I taught PE. But this will be the first time I’ve been an administrator and coach,” Dreyer said. “One of the biggest things we’ve changed around is supervision of the middle school and girls basketball games. Other administrators will supervise those games to help me focus on (boys) basketball. I feel like I’m organized and have time-management skills to balance basketball and be director of student services.”