Gladstone School Board Dismisses Football Coach

GLADSTONE---The Gladstone School Board Monday night fired football Coach Josh Mileski after four years in charge. The vote to "not renew" his contract was unanimous.

Several school board members cited confrontational incidents between Mileski and his players in making their decision.

"There was no one specific incident or issue," Gladstone School Superintendent Jay Kulbertis said. "It's always difficult and emotional when these decisions have to be made. Josh is a quality guy, a quality teacher."

Mileski led the Braves to a 2-7 record this season, and was 11-25 in four years.

"The Board was looking for a different 'end product'," Kulbertis said. "It's not about wins and losses. What they're looking for is athletics as an extension of the classroom, and they felt that at this time, Josh had been given a certain amount of time to demonstrate his ability to move the program in a (certain) direction."

Mileski addressed the board before Monday night's vote, saying that no one ever came to him to tell him that there was a problem with how he was coaching the boys. Mileski played for the Braves, and was an assistant coach there before becoming head coach.

Dr. Jay Kulbertis Statement.

And what about finding a replacement for Mileski?

"We're not going to do anything in a hurry," Kulbertis said.

Click the audio thumbnail to listen to Superintendent Kulbertis' comments.

File photos by Ron Jurek and Eric Thompson.

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

8/24	7:00 PM	Gwinn Model Towners	49 - 12 (W)	1-0

8/31	7:00 PM	at Bark River-Harris Broncos	34 - 6 (W)	2-0

9/7	7:30 PM	at Negaunee Miners	34 - 36 (L)	2-1

9/14	8:00 PM	at Menominee Maroons	6 - 47 (L)	2-2

9/21	7:00 PM	Marquette Redmen	14 - 35 (L)	2-3

9/28	7:00 PM	at Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	19 - 49 (L)	2-4

10/5	7:00 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	25 - 37 (L)	2-5

10/12	7:30 PM	at Kingsford Flivvers	28 - 49 (L)	2-6

10/18	7:00 PM	Calumet Copper Kings	12 - 36 (L)	2-7