Districts paying coaches during CHSAA suspension

Most workers are feeling the economic impact of the COVID19 pandemic, but high school coaches around the Denver metro area are still being taken care of.

Several metro school districts confirmed to The Denver Post that coaches are being paid their stipends this spring, regardless of whether a season will occur, including Denver Public Schools, Jeffco Public Schools and Cherry Creek School District.

“We barely get paid anything anyway,” said Grandview head baseball coach Scott Henry. “But is a nice supplement to our income.”

According to multiple coaches in the district, spring sports coaches typically are paid between $2,500 to $4,000 per season, depending on tenure and experience.

The Colorado High School Activities Association announced last Tuesday that all spring sports and activities are postponed until at least April 18. The announcement included the outright cancellation of music activities and its Hall of Fame event, originally scheduled for April 14.

“It’s been tough because it’s been so abrupt,” Henry said. “Our coaches worked over the past few months with our offseason program and have developed those relationships. Not being able to see those guys, it’s frustrating. It’s disappointing and we just feel bad for those kids.”

CCSD confirmed that the first round of payments have already gone out to coaches and that they will be paid for the full season. The district remains hopeful that a spring sports season will happen in 2020.

“I think we’re keeping a little bit of hope and optimism because CHSAA hasn’t officially canceled the season yet,” Henry said. “I think they’re waiting until the middle of April to see where we’re at. So, we’re hopeful. But being realistic, it doesn’t look good.”

Grandview’s baseball team was one of many teams around Colorado with aspirations entering the spring. Following last season’s Class 5A state quarterfinal trip, the Wolves were ranked No. 7 in CHSAANow.com’s preseason poll. The Wolves’ season would have started Wednesday against reigning champion Regis.

“We were obviously pretty excited about what we could be able to do this season and we’re disappointed with what’s been going on,” Henry said. “We didn’t really get a chance to sit down with our players and make out a plan in terms of what we want them to do over the next few weeks.”