Coach of 4A power Golden boys team resigns

John Anderson resigned Wednesday as Golden High School’s boys basketball coach amid accusations of verbal abuse.

The resignation of Anderson, who was in his 20th season coaching the Demons, occurred after he was placed on administrative leave Dec. 6.

“It’s pretty divisive — we’ve got a bunch of people in support of him, and a bunch of people who are making accusations,” said Diana Wilson, the chief communications officer for Jeffco Public Schools. “In light of all of that, (Anderson) decided to step down, and he won’t be coaching for the remainder of the school year.

“We did leave the door open to reconsidering him coaching further on down the line, but there are some issues that need to be resolved.”

Wilson said the district received three official complaints about Anderson’s behavior shortly before Thanksgiving break. That led to an internal investigation which culminated in Anderson’s resignation, although Wilson noted the district also received 15 letters of support for him.

“The accusations regarded inappropriate treatment of players, and saying inappropriate things,” Wilson said. “Then we have another half of the team that wrote letters of support. It’s tough, because it turns into a he-said, shesaid.

“But we’re in a different coaching environment now. There’s a lot more scrutiny now than there was when he began coaching 20 years ago.”

Anderson, who is also an assistant for the school’s football and baseball teams, is still employed as a physical education teacher at Golden.

Tim Blodgett has been named the new head coach for the No. 2 Demons (7-2), who are a Class 4A state championship contender this season after making a semifinals appearance last season. The team begins conference play at D’Evelyn on Jan. 4.

Calls and texts to Anderson, Golden athletic director J.C. Summers and Golden principal Brian Conroy were not returned.