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http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2007/...ach-steps-down/ Soccer coach steps down Houston's Irby will focus on teaching as comments toward girls draw fire By Cathryn Stout (Contact) Friday, December 21, 2007 Houston High School soccer coach Mike Irby resigned his duties with the school's soccer program Thursday afternoon amid complaints of "demeaning" comments made toward female soccer players. Irby, who coached both the girls and boys soccer teams, will continue to teach economics at the school, administrators said. Irby could not be reached for comment. Irby coached girls soccer at Houston for 14 years, winning TSSAA Class AAA state titles in 1996, 1998 and 2004. This year, the team advanced to the state quarterfinals. Assistant coach David Wolff will take over the soccer program. Shelby County Schools (SCS) spokesman Mike Tebbe confirmed that Irby met with Houston principal John Aitken Thursday afternoon. "Coach Irby (Thursday) did go in and talk to Mr. Aitken and as of (Thursday) he will be relinquishing his coaching duties," said Tebbe. Tebbe said that Irby stated he was withdrawing from the athletic program to spend more time with his family. Tebbe added that "there hasn't been any official inquiries" made by school board officials into Irby's behavior. "All complaints that would have been made would have been handled at the school level," said Tebbe. Reached by phone late Thursday, Houston's principal said that several factors contributed to Irby stepping down. Aitken acknowledged that some comments made during the season to female soccer players were "demeaning." "I would not characterize them as sexually inappropriate," he said. "Comments made to girls are sometimes taken differently than comments made to boys," Aitken added. "When you're coaching girls, you have to be careful about what you say." Irby becomes the second key figure this year in SCS to have questions raised publicly about his conduct toward females. Earlier this year, Germantown High School principal Lonnie Harris resigned following allegations of sexual harassment toward female staff members. Aitken attributed the coach's departure from the athletic program partly to the "comment" issue. Aitken also cited Irby's desire to spend more time with his young kids -- one of whom spent part of the year in the hospital -- and his "burnout" after a couple of tough games. -- Cathryn Stout: 529-2320 Deputy Sports Editor Randy Bruce also contributed

Free advice: Don't worry about rankings; just get it done on the field. The only ranking that matters is the one at the end of the season.

Ravenwood played with more passion than any of the 4 teams in the District last night. Also, the "goal" Brentwood scored actually ricotched off the football goal post at an angle and into the goal, not off the soccer goal. All 3 officials missed it and the game should never have gone into overtime. Thankfully, Ravenwood still won the game. Not sure who #4 was for Ravenwood but she is tenacious.