The month of November was a time of flooded emotions due to the removal of Jim Jonas from his basketball and football coaching positions. Initially Jonas was given a letter informing him of his dismissal and giving him the option of either resigning or being terminated from the positions.
Jonas never resigned from the positions, which then resulted in his termination.
“I did not resign because I love West Fargo,” Jonas said. “I love the athletics and I work hard for you guys.”
In a letter to superintendent David Flowers on Nov 3rd, Activities Director Curt Jones explained Jonas’ removal with “His display of poor sportsmanship and visible berating of student athletes can no longer be tolerated and condoned.” In addition to the removal request from Jones, parents contacted West Fargo School Board members voicing their opinion on the actions of Jonas.
A letter sent to the School Board signed “a concerned parent too afraid to speak out” stated: “[Jonas’s] anger and inability to control that anger on and off the field/court are embarrassing to West Fargo and the school.”
After the uproar of public opinion being portrayed on Facebook through the group “Justice for Jonas,” and on Twitter with the hashtag “#FreeJonas” as well as the sit-in during periods three and four on Nov. 20th, answers were being demanded. This demand resulted in a meeting on Nov. 21st including Jonas, Jones, and Flowers, among others.
“We had a big meeting with the administrators, coaches, and the athletic director and things went really well,” Jonas said. “There is hope that one day I will be back on the sidelines and the benches, so it went well.”
Jonas’ return next year was not confirmed by Flowers. According to Flowers, it has been established that the door is certainly open, but there is no specific timeline.
“The only statement that’s been made is that the door is not closed for him to return to coaching,” Flowers said. “It has been confirmed that he will not coach boys basketball nor football this fall.”
The rehiring process has begun for these positions and Flowers confirmed they will absolutely be filling the respective positions in Jonas’ place. Jonas will, however, continue to coach track.
“Their reasoning was that track is a little different than basketball and football,” Jonas said. “The stopwatch doesn’t lie and you can tell who your best competitors are.”
The previous statement released by Jonas to The Fargo Forum read in part, “I am sorry for the embarrassment I have brought to my family, friends, and West Fargo,” and caused confusion pertaining to the “embarrassment.”
“The embarrassment was because I don’t get to be with the West Fargo athletics,” Jonas said. “I brought negative press and that is what I was embarrassed about. That is not the Packer way.”
Jonas said he was flattered by the amount of public opinion that was expressed in support of him, but is moving on in hope of one day returning to the Packer sideline and bench.
“The kids with the sit in and everything that you guys have done for me, it’s phenomenal,” Jonas said. “I think kids know when you care about them.”