After news broke of the Española School District performing an internal investigation into allegations against Española Valley High School volleyball head coach Damon Salazar, earlier this month, one current member of the volleyball team, three former players and parents of players appeared at the Nov. 20 Española School Board meeting to voice their opinions on the subject.
Initially, those coming forward on behalf of Salazar were not welcome to speak at the meeting. Superintendent Bobbie Gutierrez said since the Board does not get involved in personnel matters, she would meet privately, with those concerned.
She also said those trying to speak needed to sign in.
“My understanding is that they weren’t signed up for public participation,” she said.
Some prodding from Board member Pablo Lujan, and his questioning of Gutierrez and Board President Ruben Archuleta, opened the floor for the players and parents to be heard publicly.
“We’re not allowing these kids to speak and be involved in public participation, or speak what they want to say?” Lujan asked of Gutierrez and Archuleta.
The one current member of the volleyball team who spoke was junior Meranda Romero. She defended Salazar, saying his exit would be negative for the volleyball program.
“During all of this time, we have never witnessed any of the accusations placed on Damon,” she said. “This man’s passion for volleyball has made us one of the most successful teams in the state. His coaching skills are unsurpassed. The accusations against Damon are irrational and false. It would be disastrous to Española volleyball if Damon does not coach.”
The accusations leveled against Salazar are unclear. He said the investigation is the result of parents complaining that their children are not playing in volleyball games, even though they have missed practice.
He has a strict disciplinary code, which involves a player missing a match if they are absent from a practice.
Gutierrez has not disclosed the nature of the investigation, apart from saying that she received legitimate complaints.
The one voice that spoke in opposition to Salazar, at the meeting, was Cindy Atencio, the mother of a volleyball player. She said her daughter had surgery, so she could not attend volleyball practices. As a result, she was benched.
Atencio said assistant coach Kristi Salazar told her daughter she would not play, while Damon Salazar said her daughter might be able to play in certain games.
“That’s the reason why I’m glad this is happening,” she said. “And you guys need to know what kind of a coach he really is.”
Atencio was the only person to speak against Damon Salazar. Three former volleyball players spoke in defense of him and one parent added to their sentiment.
Amanda Maestas, a graduate of Española Valley High School, played under Damon Salazar for five years and helped him coach, after she graduated. She attested to his character and thought his potential firing would have an adverse effect on future generations of Española volleyball players.
“He’s gone above and beyond what a coach’s duties are, or should be,” she said. “He never let us sell ourselves short. He always pushed us to be the best person we could be.”
Damon Salazar has coached at Española since 2009. This past season was the first time in six years, that the Lady Sundevils missed going to the state tournament.
SUN Staff Writer Barron Jones contributed to this story.