With a vote of 5 to 1, the Charlotte School Board voted to keep Coach Ernst resignation. Athletic Director San Stafford was named the new coach at Thursday night's meeting.
Members of the Charlotte community came out to Thursday night's special meeting to try to get the coach his job back. Dozens of people filled the lecture room at Charlotte High School to get answers on the resignation of beloved Coach Steven Ernst.
"Steve Ernst is the face of this community, he has bonded us together. He created a level of excitement for the families, the businesses and he is the one that is going to make the community prosper. He needs to be back" said Lisa Barnett, who son is on the team.
Ernst resigned Monday after being put into a development plan to deal with the number of technical fouls he's had in the last 30 games.
But many in the community, including his players, don't think the coach left on his own will.
"When we heard that he resigned we all knew it wasn't because he wanted to resign. We all knew he was forced out when he resigned" said Charlotte Varsity Basketball captain Collin Garn.
With no coach, the team is trying to move forward.
"Right now we're practicing with no coach at all. I mean we're just kind of running the show on our own, doing the best we know how" Garn said. "Trying to do what we think coach would say to do."
While most in the community want Coach Ernst to return, others remind people that he left on his own.
"He chose to resign, that was his decision to resign" said Deb Shaughnessy, former Charlotte Mayor.
"There were issues when they hired him and he was put on a disciple plan, a development plan, to improve" Shaughnessy said.
