Rich Polk is back as the head coach of the Tesoro girls volleyball program.
Polk had resigned Thursday amid controversy over the selection of players to the junior varsity team, but he rescinded his resignation and held practice Monday.
The rest of his staff, which had resigned in an act of solidarity, also returned.
“It was important that the kids wanted me back, so I’m back,” said Polk, who declined any further comment.
Polk’s resignation’s came about when Capistrano Unified School District officials asked him to hold another set of junior varsity tryouts after parents confronted the district. The parents were upset about their daughter being cut from the junior varsity team.
The district told Polk that the added tryout would have to include a coach from outside the school or an administrator.
District Chief Communications Officer Stephen Nicholf confirmed the district asked Polk to conduct another tryout, however the request came about when district officials discovered Polk did not hold the tryouts in accordance with district policy. Nicholf did say the district was notified by a parent.
Nicholf said Polk did not use “measurable criteria” in the tryout process, and he posted the results of the two-day tryouts before the end of the second day — both no-nos under guidelines set by the district in 2011.
“I’m glad we were able to work out a solution that’s right for the kids,” said Nicholf.
Nicholf said he did not know when the requested second tryout will be held.
The resignations put a hold on the Titans’ season. They had to forfeit a match last week against Mission Viejo.
“My daughters were in tears when they heard the news (Thursday),” said Linda Riden, who has two daughters, Hailey and Emily, in the program. “(Polk) has been a wonderful coach. All they ever wanted was to have him back.”
“The bottom line is that the girls are happy. so I’m happy,” said Bruce Bates, spokesman for the Tesoro girls volleyball booster club.
Polk, the Register’s girls volleyball coach of the year in 2012, has coached the girls program at Tesoro for 10 years. In 2011, he guided the Titans to a South Coast League championship and led them to the CIF-Southern Section Division 2AA semifinals. In 2012, Tesoro advanced to the semifinals in Division 1AA.
