Kennedy water polo coach Eric Pierce, who helped rejuvenate the school’s boys and girls programs, has been removed by the Anaheim Union High School District for unspecified reasons, the coach said.
Pierce, in his third season as a walk-on coach, said he wasn’t given a definitive explanation for his removal Friday when he met with a human resources administrator for the district.
“I wasn’t given a firm reason for my dismissal,” Pierce said. “Everything I had to give I’ve given to the program.”
A spokesperson for the Anaheim Union High School District confirmed Pierce’s removal, but declined to elaborate on the reason.
“That’s a confidential, personnel matter that we’re not able to discuss publicly,” said Pat Karlak, the district’s public information officer.
Pierce, who also is a water polo referee, was supported by several Kennedy parents and players who attended a district meeting Tuesday night and a few spoke on his behalf.
Earlier this month, Joshua Christopher Owens, a former assistant water polo and swimming coach at Kennedy, pleaded not guilty to sexual assault charges.
Owens, 23, is suspected of sexually assaulting three female students between 14 and 16 years old while he worked as a part-time coach from 2014 to 2016 at Kennedy, according to the Buena Park Police.
Shawn McBride has been named the interim coach of Kennedy’s girls water polo team. Kennedy (16-7 overall, 2-0 in the Empire League) is ranked fourth in CIF-SS Division 6.
Kennedy’s boys team won the Empire League title in 2014 and finished as the runner-up in 2015 and 2016.
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