Harford Tech Football Coach Fired

Mike Woods has been fired as head coach of the Harford Tech football team, and the search for a replacement is under way.

Athletic Director David Deutsch said he and Principal Charles Hagan, who was not available for comment, made a joint decision to relieve the coach of his duties before informing him in a late-January meeting.

“He’s a great man. He was a mentor for me and I felt horrible throughout the entire process. He’s somebody who I care very deeply for,” Deutsch said.

The athletic director first said that Woods had resigned, which came as a surprise to the former head coach.

“It wasn’t my choice to step down, so that’s false,” said Woods, who cited “parent complaints” as a reason that he believes contributed to his dismissal. “I’m surprised about what they said over there as far as me stepping down. I told them it was not my decision.”

Deutsch chose not to elaborate on the reasons. After he was reached by telephone for a second time, he confirmed that Woods was fired.

“I’d like to not go into the details in that. There’s things we just thought that we needed to make a change in,” Deutsch said. “I still say that he was given an opportunity to step down … [but] he was fired.”

Deutsch said dismal records in consecutive seasons did not affect the decision.

“I know on the outside looking in, it's easy to say, ‘Back-to-back 1-9 seasons, that’s why he was let go.’ Obviously, yes, winning is a goal when competing," he said. "Athletics at Harford Tech has always been viewed upon differently inside the county. We have to break some barriers and get our kids to believe in the athletic program here.”

The athletic director added that the football program is at a disadvantage because “there’s a set of standards” regarding admissions.

The application deadline for Woods successor is Friday. Deutsch expects the selection committee to interview at least three candidates.

“We want to make sure we’re bringing in the right person, someone who’s going to be there for the school,” he said.

Woods, meanwhile, has already contacted a nearby head coach about a possible job in that program.

“[I met Friday] with coach [David] Yohn over at C. Milton [Wright] and I’ve talked to a few other coaches also to see if they need help for next season,” he said. “I would still like to coach. That’s the bottom line.”

Woods, who is a teacher at Harford Tech, said if he gets a coaching job at another school, he would prefer to teach there, too.

Deutsch said he would welcome Woods’ return as an assistant should the next head coach ask him to join the staff, adding, “He has a big place in the Harford Tech family here.”