A crime has been committed at Helias Highschool

[sader35901]

Mike Jeffries, who has been the head football coach at Helias High School the past seven seasons, has been relieved of his position, it was announced Friday.

Jeffries, who has coached football at Helias for 37 seasons, had a career record of 44-33 as the Crusader head coach.


Coach Jeffries is an Icon. I cannot begin to describe how upset this makes me. Coach Jeffries has dome so much for the wrestling community in missouri. Love or Hate Helias Coach brought 12 state wrestling titles to Helias. If this can happen to a man like this, who is safe. I thought Helias was a school where loyality is important. I guess not.

The AD (Stan Ochsner) blames Coach for the state of the football team, bottom line is Helias does not have the athletes. They lack foot speed.

The parents are to much as blame as anyone. We all know that a kids success in athletics is to much as do with parents envolvment as anything else.

It seems to me that all Helias sports have been on the down swing over the last couple of years. So it seems to me its the ADs fault. He is not promoting a culture of excellence in all sports. That is who should be fired not Coach. I have heard several accounts of the AD going into wrestling practice and using the wrestlers to set up chairs are some other crap. I believe The AD (Stan Ochsner) was anti wrestling any way.

My family had been thinking of moving back to JC so my sons could attend Helias. Not now.

Further I ask any alumni to withhold money, contributions or any other support until the school formaly apologizes in public to Coach Jeffries or the AD is removed for this affront.

I ask the wrestling community to contact Helias let them know what you think about this. All wrestlers should stand together to protect are own.

Helias address is 1305 Swifts highway, Jefferson City MO 65109
The Helias website is Heliashighschool.com

People get fired all the time for not performing up to standards.

[PAPA SMURF]

who were some of his wrestlers that went on to college and thier accomplishments?

[T.D.C.Dad]

A state title in wrestling on a average of every 3 years is a very good record. When was the last year they won a state title.

[sader35901]

Coach stepped down from wrestling 3 years ago and turned it over to Dave Ganey.

From 1970 to to 2002 Helias won 12 state wrestling tiltes, finsihed in the top 5 25 years in a row, was ranked nationally several times. Coach Jefferies left with the 3rd most wins coach in the nation.

Coach focused on football the last 3 years, he took the crusaders to a second place finish a few years back.

The problem I have with this is that the firing had, I think very little to do with performance, and more to do with the changing culture at Helias. I think the bad performace over the last two years was due to the level of athletes not due to coaching. Look at the track record the man has always been a winner.

[sdrblu]

I feel your passion and your dissapointment, but I do not think your words of "withdrawing contributions" and what-not are the best way to deal with the situation...and I don't think that Coach Jeffries would fully agree with your statements, either. Coach is a great man and he will remain loyal to the school...remember, he is an EXCELLENT teacher as well. He will continue to support the athletic programs (as he always has), especially wrestling and football.

I also do not agree with your statements about Helias athletics being on a downswing in the last couple of years. True, wrestling and Football have not been the best lately, but helias is not only about those two sports. I think it may seem helias athletics aren't the best as they were in the past b/c helias is now competing in a higher class in every sport except wrestling, football, and cross country. In 2002, the 1.35 multiplier was implemented and it had a drastic effect on all helias sports, especially basketball, volleyball, golf, tennis, and tennis. But what about the softball team...in the past 5 years, helias softball has been in the title game 3 times, and won the title twice. Since the mulitplier...look at the sports...

BASKETBALL- had (arguably) it's best team EVER with Jamaal Tatum and Patrick Staub in 2002...the team would have been in class 4, but 1.35 bumped them up and they had to compete with the big boys. The result...helias couldn't even make it out of districts (w/ hickman, rock bridge, and jeff city-some of the largest schools in the state...hickman has 2000 more students than helias). What if helias were in class 4? Well, that year (2002), helias beat ozark by 15 at the MFA shootout at the Hearnes center...Ozark would go on to win the class 4 state title a few weeks later... That season had a lot of potential to be helias' first basketball title

GIRLS BASKETBALL- girls b-ball was peaking in the late 90's and early 00's...in fact, the girls received a #1 ranking the 2001 season b4 falling by 3 points (their was much hype about the referee's that game...and i have to admit, it was horrendous...the papers even mentioned it). the girls were winning district titles and (i think) in 4 out of 5 years, their playoff losses were to eventual state champs (marshfield-3 years in a row- and nixa-2000). After the multiplier...once again, the team couldn't get out of districts. the girls team this year returns all staters and expects to have a great year.

BASEBALL-i think they had 9 district titles in a row b4 loosing to eventual state champ hickman in last years district final game. In playoffs, helias gave hickman its closest game...i think hickman went on to mercy rule every team after almost being beat by helias.

TENNIS- its been about the same, 2004 guys had some all-staters in class 4...girls have never been that great

GOLF- 2005 saw helias get its 3rd golfer "state champion". the team couldn't make it, but helias state champion came in class 4. in 2004, helias golf earned a 4th place trophy. Girls, this year, they finished 7th in class 4. the programs are strong

CROSS COUNTRY- helias cc teams have always been strong. the past years, they've had great runners, including becca miller who recieved placings of 11, 9, 2, and 5th at the state races. last year, the girls finished 5th place out of 16 teams at state, this year, the boys finished 5th...boys' team best finish in nearly 9 years. the programs are strong.

SOCCER- 2004 season was a record year for the boys team (program only 5 years old) and 2005 was also an great year...the team finished with a top 15 ranking.

TRACK- the girls track team was absolutely dominant throughout the 90's...the 00's haven't been the greatest, but the boys and girls have remained steady...winning conference titles and sending individuals to state. the multiplier has effected both teams drastically. without 1.35, the girls would definitely had had a trophy some of those years btwn 2002-2005, especially in 04. 05 saw the best guys team in recent years, and they had a pole vaulter go to state and is now vaulting at a D2 university.

VOLLEYBALL- along with the softball team, the volleyball team has been on a drastic upside the past few years. the 2004 season was a record-breaking year. the 04 team set records in every category exept 1 and reached a season record of 30-4-1 ( i wonder how far they would've gotten in class 3). the 2005 season didn't see as much of a great record as 04, but it won sectionals and narrowly missed a final 4 birth.


Helias athletics are not on a downslide.


As much as i don't like the multiplier and wish it would cease to exist, it is here (for the time being) and we must deal with it. Helias athletics will be fine; negative comments do not help. Being in larger classes just means that you have to work harder...which helias has never had a problem doing. one day, the mulitplier might be gone...but that doesn't mean that all our problems will be solved.

I urge people to not withdrawal support of the school...after all, it is Helias; it is a great school and will continue to be one...but not if people are so divided.

one more thing, the parents have got to learn some limits. and parents need to not approach coaches about things...its one of the things coaches dread.

[sdrblu]

Like i said, helias athletics are not on a downslide. These figures prove it. Great athletes continue to come out of the school. This year, alone, helias has 3 Div 1 recruits. Lauren delaney was featured by Sports Illustrated and was named as one of "the most dominant pitchers in the Midwest". She'll be pitching at northwestern- sweet 16 in 2005. joining her is a helias catcher, haug. both were first team all-state. the third is senior goller McHenry. The class 4 state champion in 2005.


What's on the downswing is the helias fans who loose hope so easily. believe me, the coaches, students, and athletes have faith, do the fans? This is not the time to discontinue support of the school.

[obnoxio]

Jeffries, who has coached football at Helias for 37 seasons, had a career record of 44-33 as the Crusader head coach.


I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but,,,77 games over 37 years!!! Did he only coach 2 games a year????

You Catholics have funny math.

[sader35901]

Its about loyality first, and a double satndard second.

First Loyality-- There were several seasons in the past that Helias had a worse football season, Did the admin stick by Coach Hentges yes they did. They were rewarded with a state title. I can only remember one or two coaches ever fired from their coaching position at Helias and I believe it had little to do with on field performance. If Mr Rackers and Coach Hentges were still there this would never happen.

The second issue is the double standard/hypocrisy. Helias athletics are on the downslide compared to what they were under Hentges/Rackers from 1980 to 98 Helias won 27 state titles in various sports. Then The new AD came in how many did we win since 2 ( 1 was wrestling) . It seems to me the whole athletic porgram went down hill the last seven years or so compared to what it was. The double standard is Coach Jefries can be fired for two bad seasons (even though he took the football team to the finals a few years back). When the AD has been much worse for the school. Throw all the numbers you want out state titles have been the only measuring stick Helias has ever used. To follow this logic the AD should go, not Coach.

The bottom line is this-- This was a knee Jerk reaction a CYA by the AD to cover for the entire athletic program.

[cardsfsc]

I'm not a Sader fan by any means (BOOOO/HIIISSSSS).
Just doesn't seem right though. Hats off to Coach Jeffries for making a difference for so many student athletes, for so many years.

[sdrblu]

Once again, Helias athletics are NOT on a downslide...the competition has gotten better due to Helias having to compete in the large classes due to the multiplier. Without the multiplier, Helias would have (probably) 4 more banners up there...and then you wouldn't be saying the athletics were on a downslide.

Another thing, Helias did not win 27 state titles from 1980-1998. Currently (in 2005), Helias has 31 state titles. From November 1999 to November 2005, Helias has won 5 state titles.

School year
1998-1999 Football state champs
____________________________

1999-2000 Baseball Ctate Champs
2000-2001 Baseball State Champs
2001-2002 2nd place Softball (The dance team won state this year!)
2002-2003 Wrestling State Champs
2003-2004 Softball State Champs; 2nd plc indiv cc runner-Becca Miller
2004-2005 Class 4 Golf Inividual State Champion Connor Mchenry
2005-2006 Softball State Champs

I think that looks pretty good darn to me. And that's 5 state titles (not 2), 6 including the dance team's in 2001 and 7 including the individual Class 4 Golf title.

[sader35901]

Individual state titles do not count

If that was the case to realize how many wretling titles you could claim. Dance is not part of the deal either.

So it was still 2 since the New AD took over I got my years off a couple when Coach Hentges left and oshner took over.

It was still 27 under Hentges, 3 under Oshner. (I missed the girls softball). I should have been more clear and said male athletics.

But thats not the point. Coach should not have been fired. He made thats schools rep. To treat him that way is wrong and for to stand here and make apologes for this travesty shows you have no loyality.

[sader35901]

12 wrestling titles, bottom line the school and the alumni owe him something. You don't treat people how have given so much this way. Wrong is wrong and right is right. The Helias I know would not have done this. This new administration is unbelievable to me. I have heard grumblings about other coachs there also rumors I will not make public.

I can't count the times I heard Coach so and so is too mean coach so and so is to hard on them. They were the same way when i was there however the parents didn't complian the way they do now.

Wether I was one or two state titles off is not the issue. I got the count from a Helias press guide the bottom line is Helias male athletics is not as good as they were under the previous AD.

If Coach Jeffries was the problem (which was BS) so was the AD if he was fired the AD should have gone right afterwards.

Coach was one of the greatest people I have ever been around It was an Honor to wrestle for him and play football for him. One wonders this, wrestling started Helias's state title run in the 80's if not for the asscendency of the wrestling program would any of the sports taken up the winning tradition. Winning and greatness is contagious. With this winning spirit being snubbed out will Helias remain great.

[Beowulf]

What's on the downswing is the helias fans who loose hope so easily. believe me, the coaches, students, and athletes have faith, do the fans? This is not the time to discontinue support of the school.

sdrblu smells like helias administration

[sdrblu]

Ah, Beowulf, you caught me...but now its time to figure out which of the 4 administrators I am?... :roll:

This is rediculous. :lol: No, I am not an administrator and I was never defending ANYONE, especially not the administration. I, personally, do not think that Coach Jeffries should have been fired. I do wish he would go back to wrestling, though. That would be awesome.

All I was saying is that I disagree with sader35901 that Helias athletics are in a downslide. And people have to remember that Helias never was (and still isn't) all about wrestling. True wrestling really began it all, but the other sports were generally always very competitive. Helias has state titles in 8 different sports...its not all about wrestling and football.

I still do not agree with sader35901's comments about "witholding money, contributions or ANY OTHER SUPPORT for the school"... This is not how true crusaders act and this is NOT how Coach Jeffries would want the situation handled.

[obnoxio]

...witholding money is not what the Pope would want

[sader35901]

When did the Infallabilty of Helias High School become doctrine?

When did the admin gain the divine inspiration to never make mistakes?

There is only one way to get the attention people. You cut off thier resources. Thats it.

My point is that Helias athletics were are not as good now under the present AD as they were in the past. So if coach Jeffries can be fired (which is BS) over performance ,the AD should go also.

To you SDRBLU

et tu bruti et tu

It was the Kansas City area's fault he got fired.

[sdrblu]

sader35901, if you have something to say say it, instead of writing "et tu bruti et tu". How childish. :lol:


When did you wrestlte for Coach, again.?

[Thfzn]

A classless move by Helias. Mike Jefferies deserved better. My wife's uncle went to Helias and still raves about Jefferies as a teacher and a coach.

[sader35901]

86-90

I have still have to much respect for Coach to call him by his first name.


as for et tu bruti that is what Gaius Julias Ceaser said (thats what the historians say at least) when he was stabbed in the back by his friends primarliy by Brutus. Any way I thought you would get it. I guess you didn't take Brother Norberts latin class.

A man of Coaches level should have the choice to leave when and how he chooses. That is the respect he deserves. Coach is a man of Honor if he felt it was his time to leave he would have. If he didn't the admin should have honored his opinion. that is the respect he deserves.

[sdrblu]

I agree with you that he should not have been fired, I think that next year's team will be good. Maybe he can get back into wrestling. Also, I didn't even mean to call him Mike. Like you, I always refer to him as coach.

I didn't have Brother Norbers, he wasn't teaching anymore.

[cardsfsc]

A man of Coaches level should have the choice to leave when and how he chooses. That is the respect he deserves. Coach is a man of Honor if he felt it was his time to leave he would have. If he didn't the admin should have honored his opinion. that is the respect he deserves.


Well said!

[New beat]

When it comes to long-time coaches and poor records two words: Joe Paterno. Look what he did this year after about everybody was calling for his head.

And Joe Pa is just as good a recruiter as any Helias coach! :wink:

[sdrblu]

Now that Jeff City has hired Helias alum and 1984 state champ QB Ted Lepage, I sure hope Helias decision makers are kicking themselves for firing Jeffries...what a stupid move. The man had many years to go...

[MG_Grievous]

A crime has been committed at Helias Highschool

What a let down after reading the thread title.

[Helias is the place to be]

I am a senior at Helias now and i played football for Coach Jefferies and i will say that it was a honor to play for a man like him, and that it wasn't his fault the past two years have been down. we just started out slow and progressed we did score 28 points on the state champion team camdenton more than any body else scored all year. I also have been wrestling for 4 years now one under Coach Jefferies and the rest under Coach Reinch and Ganey.

[sdrblu]

well, you guys open up with warrensburg, what are you expectations about the year?

[sader35901]

Just a few things.

As I hear more of the circumstances regarding this action. It re-enforces my opinion that Coach did the right thing. Coach stood up for what he felt was right and was fired for it. This is awfull, Oshner has no Honor, what has happenend to Helias. I just can't believe it. Oshner the AD has to go, and Hughes with him.

Helias should be kicking themseleves to loss LePage to JC, If they hadn't treated Coach so poorly maybe they could have got him.

I hope the Helias wrestling team does well this year, Ganey and Travis are good people and good coaches.

[sader35901]

I just wonder what Oshner is doing with hos 20 pieces of silver, I guess souls are for sale even at Helias

[sdrblu]

As for Stan, I have known the man for a long time...deep down, he's a good guy and tuely cares about the school...although i do think that firing Jeffries was the worst move anyone could ever make at the school. The problem (I think) is that he is trying to do to much. He one of four administrators, the Dean of Students, and the Athletic Director...I just think that is too much power for one person. I hear there are rumors of some administration leaving...and that MSHAA and others want the superintendant to take an administration position (that is horrible, since he is not very well liked...and he was part of the whole fiasco that tried to get a couple of teachers in trouble at the school). I think Jeffries would make an excellent administrator... I think he should go back to wrestling!

[sader35901]

Good people stand up for whats right. They have the moral fiber to weather the storm, they do whats right no matter the results.

Didn't Oshner also get us kicked out of the NCMC also, wow he did a great job.

[sdrblu]

That is not true. Stan did not get us "kicked out" of the NCMC. Helias voluntarily decided to discontinue its membership with the conference, Rock Bridge did the same thing. The other schools in the NCMC had been complaining for years about how Helias was winning everything. Three schools (Fulton, Mexico, and Moberly) said they would leave the NCMC if Helias did not. They sited unfairness and they said Helias' enrollement was not comparible with the other schools. 3 other schools (Kirksville, Hannibal, and Marshall) came to Helias' defense and said that they did not have a problem with having Helias in the conference and that the school made the NCMC a powerful conference...they did not have a problem facing tough competition. Rock Bridge had already announced they were leaving b/c they wanted to play tougher competition, espicially in football. The 3 schools against Helias said they woulld leave if Helias did not. Helias did not want to see the conference be destroyed, so they said they would leave if the conference would stay intact. The other schools agreed... and that is what happened. And it wasn't completely Stan's decision...it was a collaboration of the coaches.

[sader35901]

I am just following the logic that Oshner used when he fired Coach. Ultimatley Helias is not in a conference, it hurst the programs. It is the ADs responsibilty to promote all athletics, he failed in this so there you go.

[sdrblu]

I don't think it hurts the programs to not be in the NCMC. You make it seem like Stan took over, said "no more conferences", and that was that. Completely not true. After Helias voluntarily left the conference (basically kicked out), helias looked at several conferenes to join...and were offered to join...but travel was a major setback. Since we no longer play those schools in the playoffs anymore...being independent has allowed us to schedule more teams around the state that are in our class...and most of the schools that are in the NCMC still play us, anyway.

[obnoxio]

How's everything at Helias?

[class3fan-1]

I stumbled upon the post about Coach Jeffries being fired as the football coach at Helias. I quite honestly dont give a hoot about the football program but I am a diehard wrestling fan!
Things are in shambles at Helias when it comes to the wrestling "program". I have been defending our team, coaches, etc.... but things must change! It saddens me to see a program that Coach put together fall apart in such a short time. With a few changes, I believe Helias will be back on top!

Go Saders!!

[klhill]

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but,,,77 games over 37 years!!! Did he only coach 2 games a year????

You Catholics have funny math.

Onoxio, you need to re-read the first sentence in that post. He has been the HEAD COACH for 7 yrs.

[JT Harden]

How has Loethen not posted on this yet....HELLO RYAN WHERE ARE YOU?????

[Norseman]

JT--He's writing a tome for this thread.

[Loethen]

Coach Jeffries was simply the best wrestling coach in MO history. The facts bear that out:

Coaching Victories
Coach (Schools) Yrs. Seasons Record Pct.
Mike Jeffries (Helias)......................................34.. ....1969-2003.........336-18-2...........947
+Bob Glasgow (Oak Grove)...........................24......1984-2008.........245-35-2...........872
+Paul Barbarick (Raymore-Peculiar)..............27......1982-2008.........215-44-2...........826

The program changed a lot when Coach left;how do you replace a legend?

The problems Helias has right now are manifold and I do not attribute them to the current coach. Travis is a good Coach. Had he not been a good Coach do you really think I would have sent Ty to school there?

I have talked to Travis and told him what I think the problems are, and I believe most of it comes form the kids club. We are not getting kids in the room who are even JV capable right now. MSHSAA rules prevent us from having a JR high team.

Take into account Helias population is shrinking, a culture that no longer see's wrestling as the main sport at helias, and kids who really have a lot more winter choices (year long baseball, soccer, Football players who are encouraged to lift and not wrestle) Helias is not a big school the multiplier makes us seem bigger than we are and without two and three sport athletes we just can't compete.

There are a lot of changes that can be made to bring about a revival in Helias wrestling. It starts with getting Mats at the grade schools, creating a PAL wrestling league, creating a unfied JR high team that travels. We are having a GR/FS team in the spring.

The other problem is strength-our kids are simply not strong and that is not just wrestling, compared to an Ozark we seem like jr high kids str wise, and that is not just wrestling, it is all sports. The whole Athletic dept needs to focus on str and speed dev for the kids. The only reason Ty was so strong is that I trained him myself.

It may take a couple of years; but Helias has potential we are not that far removed from a State championship (9yrs ago) But I believe with some work we can bring back a culture of excellence and strength to the Helias

[cementMixer]

Solution for Helias: Hire Loethen.

[Loethen]

Don't under estimate how important Coach Joe Schaeffer was. He as named asst of the year many times. He very easily could have been a head coach anywhere he wanted.

Also Mark Shrimpf and Bill Frank and the coaches at TRI CAP when they stopped coaching the kids club he saw a huge drop off. We used to have a kids club of 150 kids now we have 47.

[btbam]

Jeffries got out as wrestling coach because he knew the downfall was about to happen. Its no coincidence he continued to coach football (which sucked) and not wrestling.

[Loethen]

Jeffries got out as wrestling coach because he knew the downfall was about to happen. Its no coincidence he continued to coach football (which sucked) and not wrestling.

That's not true--please don't insult the man. Helias still had good kids--after 34 yrs as a head coach he had the right to step down. He simply didn't fire the fire to grind out Football and wrestling back to back.

[MLBRUEM]

don't under estimate how important coach joe schaeffer was. He as named asst of the year many times. He very easily could have been a head coach anywhere he wanted.

Also mark shrimpf and bill frank and the coaches at tri cap when they stopped coaching the kids club he saw a huge drop off. We used to have a kids club of 150 kids now we have 47.

amen

[Wrestling Doc]

That's not true--please don't insult the man. Helias still had good kids--after 34 yrs as a head coach he had the right to step down. He simply didn't fire the fire to grind out Football and wrestling back to back.

Do you think Coach Jeffries will return to coaching wrestling?

[Doug Long]

I was fortunate to be on one of those teams that beat Helias in a dual back in 1970-71. We had some good battles with the Helias wrestlers and always had a ton of respect for Mike and the Crusader program.

When I started coaching wrestling in Chillicothe we were in the toughest wrestling conference in the state, the old NCMC. If you placed in the NCMC, it was almost a lock that you were going to place at state.

Say hello to Mark and Bill from Doug Long. I wrestled Max Wachter at 119 before dropping to 112 for state. Wrestled Jim Scheppers at 112. I and a many of the other Moberly wrestlers came down and attended Jim Anniels funeral after his tragic death. You'll have to forgive my spelling on names, it's been 40+ years.

BTW-Mike Jeffries is a also a Moberly native and Zach and Sam Richardson are his nephews. (They also wrestled for Moberly long after I was gone.)

More cool facts- Paul Barbarick and I were teammates at CMSU. Bobby Glasgow and I coached the national team together for many summers. I actually managed a swim club in KC and coached the dive team. I had a diver that beat Bobby in a summer diving meet when he was a senior in high school. He actually had hair back then. Man, I'm really dating myself!!!!

[stitchemup]

Coach stepped down from wrestling 3 years ago and turned it over to Dave Ganey.

I think coach Ganey has done a great job. He has two of his lighter weights in the finals. That's right he got fired from Helias too. He's a JAYS coach, and has been there the last three years. I'm sorry to hear about Coach Jefferies, he is great man and was a heck of a great wrestling coach.

[class3fan-1]

It is no surprise Coach Ganey has wrestlers in the finals. He is one of the the reasons the Jays have done so well and Helias has faltered. He is a great motivator. A great unjustice by the Helias administration.