Marysville parts ways with hockey coach John Hartig after one season

A major change to the Marysville hockey team has been made just days before the 2022-23 season.

The Vikings fired coach John Hartig after one season last week. Hartig confirmed the news to the Times Herald Monday.

"I don't feel bad for me, I feel bad for the (players)," Hartig said. "Because we've had a good group of kids and (our staff) had a close bond with our players ... it's a shame."

Marysville athletic director Phil Gartland did not return a phone call requesting comment about Hartig's dismissal but did respond in an email:

"The District does not engage in discussions with the media involving personnel matters," Gartland's email said. "Even so, we thank John for his service to the District, our student-athletes, and our parents. We also wish him well in all his future endeavors."

As of Tuesday, a replacement has not been hired. When asked who the current coach is, Gartland said in a follow-up email that the administration "will be conducting interviews and hope to announce that soon."

Marysville went 18-8-0 and won a MAC White championship in Hartig's lone season with the program. The Vikings eventually fell to New Baltimore Anchor Bay, 4-3, in a regional semifinal.

Hartig was notified of his dismissal on Nov. 10 in an email from Gartland, which was seen by the Times Herald. The message cited his "extremely inappropriate and unprofessional" handling of a team situation as the reason why.

The conflict in question began at the end of last season, when two parents didn't pay their monthly athletic fee, according to Hartig.

"Hockey teams — whether it be travel or high school — all pay a monthly ice bill," Hartig said. "So I had two parents that didn't fulfill their obligation."

Earlier this month, he said he was told by the athletic director's secretary that the same parents hadn't paid for the upcoming season.

"I ask his secretary, 'Why haven't they paid?' " Hartig said. "She said, 'John, I've been chasing them all football season long.' So I met with the athletic director on (Nov. 7), I said, 'Look, we've got to take a stand now. Otherwise, this (stuff) is just going to continue and they're not going to pay because they can get away with it.' "

According to Hartig, Gartland said he would send an email to the two parents the next day. Hartig disagreed and wanted it sent out that afternoon.

"(Nov. 8) comes and (Gartland) texts me," Hartig said. "He says, 'I talked to central office and we're just going to forget about their ice bill and move forward.' And I texted back, 'If the school is not going to stand behind me and take care of it, I will take of care of it myself.' "

Hartig then emailed the parents himself.

"Basically saying that the school is not going to be back me up because they have to take over our finances this year because of this certain parent," Hartig said. "I sent them both pretty much the same email saying, 'Until your obligation is paid, your kids will not play.' "

Hartig also sent a similar note to a messaging app that the team uses. A number of parents then sent his post to the athletic department.

Two days later, Hartig received the email from Gartland which said he'd been let go.

"Pointing out parents and blaming the school for their policies regarding ice fees and money collection is extremely inappropriate and unprofessional," Gartland's email to Hartig said. "I am sorry to be the one to have to deliver this message, in this way via email, but the school has made the decision to release you from your coaching position."

"Last year I had 20 players," Hartig said. "All but two of them paid. My stance was, why is it OK for these two not to pay when the rest of the people have? That's my whole point."

Added Hartig: "What's fair for one should be fair for the other. That was whole point of the whole deal. They pay or they don't play. And 18 out of the 20 (players) did."

The Vikings will open the season against Romeo at McMorran Arena at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendenWelper.