Napa football coach out

The winningest football coach in the history of Napa High School resigned Wednesday following a disagreement with administrators over how to rebuild the team after an internal hazing scandal last season, an official said.

Troy Mott handed in his resignation Wednesday morning, said Elizabeth Emmett, a spokeswoman for Napa Valley Unified School District.

Mott was not found responsible or negligent for any of the hazing, which police and the school district started investigating in November. The longtime coach also had the backing of Principal Annie Petrie, Emmett said.

“He had the support of the principal and the administration to rebuild the program,” Emmett said. “There was never a question of his ability to do that. It’s been his decision to not do that.”

Emmett said the resignation of Mott — who will stay at the school as a physical education teacher — stemmed from his wanting more autonomy over the reboot of the troubled program than the district was willing to provide him.

In a copy of Mott’s resignation letter obtained by the Napa Valley Register, Mott cited “varying philosophies and the new desired direction of the football program” for his departure. Mott could not be reached for comment.

Weeks ago, the program’s seven other coaches — split among freshman, junior varsity and varsity levels — were told they would have to reapply to Mott for their jobs for next season, with the condition that a panel of administrators would then have to agree to the hirings.

Police have described a series of apparent hazing rituals in 2015 and 2016 in the lead-up to the annual rivalry game between Napa and neighboring Vintage. Victims of the alleged hazing described being held down, struck and grabbed by their teammates.