Van Doorn was in his 25th season of coaching with the Inouk, now the Indigo. The man is a monument of sport in Granby.
“I am devastated,” he said when contacted by The Voice of the East. I’m going to be 60 in a few weeks, but I admit, I cried like a baby. I’m sad, I’m in pain.”
Van Doorn was summoned by Isabelle Giard, director of student affairs, and Mylène Poirier, director of sports, Monday afternoon. The two ladies told him that players were unhappy, and parents too, because of the way he addressed the athletes. We also spoke to him about specific events.
“I’m an intense coach, but I’ve never crossed the line, I’ve never gone overboard. Do I sometimes speak loudly to the players? Yes. Do I yell at them? No! Have I ever insulted a player? Never!”
— John Van Doorn
A coach is a teacher, recalls Van Doorn.
“When it’s the fifth time that you give an instruction to a player and she doesn’t respect it, it’s certain that it comes out sharper than the first time. It’s like a teacher at school.”
A few weeks ago, Van Doorn admitted to breaking a small plastic board while talking to his players when he wasn’t happy with what he was seeing on the pitch.
“I hit the painting on the ground and a little piece flew back. One of my players had it on her and I asked her if it was correct. She said to me: “Well yes coach!”
Van Doorn does not want to defend himself for the intensity he displays when leading his team. But he insists he never went too far.
“Since I announced the news on Facebook, a ton of my former players have written to support me. Parents of former players as well. There was a mother who told me: “One day, you saved my son by talking to him!” I didn’t even remember the event in question, I’ve coached 300 or 400 players over the years.
Eight of her 10 current players also wrote to her.
“There were some very touching messages throughout. The two I haven’t heard from are the ones I’ve asked most often to correct things this season.
On Monday, when he met Ms. Giard and Ms. Poirier, Van Doorn was offered the position… of assistant coach. Position he refused.
«Jason [Ares-St-Onge]who should become the head coach, told me that he didn’t understand what was happening, that he had never heard me say anything inappropriate. Isabelle and Mylène didn’t speak to him, I think.”
The Indigo of women’s basketball must travel to Belgium soon to play exhibition matches. Van Doorn was offered to accompany the team.
“I won’t go. Can you imagine the atmosphere in the circumstances?”
A few weeks ago, people at the CEGEP fired Kosta Alivizatos, who led the institution’s new women’s hockey team. It seems that the players did not appreciate the coach’s methods. But the CEGEP management never commented.
“Different visions”
On Tuesday, the author of these lines requested an interview with Isabelle Giard and Mylène Poirier to get their version of the facts. After accepting, they indicated that a press release, without an interview, would finally be sent.
At the end of the afternoon, The Voice of the East received this missive by email:
«The management of the Granby CEGEP wishes to provide clarification regarding the situation surrounding the coach of the women’s basketball team, John Van Doorn. During a meeting which took place on December 16, the coach made the decision to leave his position following discussions relating to different visions concerning the development and supervision of training. We recognize this coach’s exceptional dedication over the past two decades and the positive impact he has had on the sport in our region.
«We invite partners, parents and community members to support the team and its assistant coach during this period of transition. Management will remain available to answer questions and ensure rigorous monitoring of the situation.»
