JEFFERSON TWP — The Knoch High School girls’ varsity basketball coach has been let go which has disappointed a number of parents who spoke Wednesday night to the South Butler School Board.

Dave Peters, the coach for the past two years, was asked in late February not to return by the Athletic Director Michael King, according to the parents.

The Knights are 11-33 under Peters and have lost 21 of 26 section games in his two seasons. The team missed the WPIAL playoffs in both years.

Superintendent David Zupsic would not comment, saying it is a personnel matter.

Mike Archer, parent of a player, said he did not know why Peters was asked not to return, but another parent, Amy Squyres, said that parent complaints caused the district to reportedly dismiss Peters.

A number of parents said this jeopardizes the long-term viability of the program and makes it that much harder for the girls to flourish when there is little coaching consistency.

“I coached from last year and this year at the lower levels,” Tim Protos told the board.

“I cannot attest for the varsity levels, but what I can attest for is that every single Saturday when (the lower levels) had games, he was there,” he said of Peters.

“My daughter is not the best basketball player, but he still welcomed her with opened arms and was teaching her the fundamentals of the game.”

Angela Parisi, another parent, spoke about the need to build continuity in athletics at every age level. For her, Peters was working toward that.

Parisi told the board, “You cannot start a program at seventh grade or even ninth grade and expect it to work. So the fact that you have a coach who is willing to put in the time and effort into these younger girls, starting as early as kindergarten and first grade, just will give light years of benefit to this program.

“It’s not going to last just by having somebody in here for two years and not giving them a shot to continue the program.”

Parisi added that Peters had both “the dedication and the heart” to build a stronger, more successful program.

Other parents also echoed these sentiments.