About 75 supporters of Williamsville South High School basketball coach Al Monaco showed up at Tuesday night’s Williamsville School Board meeting in silent protest against the decision by Superintendent Scott Martzloff to remove the respected and long-tenured boys basketball coach from his position last week.
But it was after the meeting that a few die-hard defenders of the coach caught Martzloff’s ear, and soon, more than a dozen other supporters fell silent and listened as others pleaded for Monaco’s return, citing the great good the 24-year coach has done for so many.
“I get that,” Martzloff answered. “Nobody coaches for 24 years and doesn’t have a positive impact on many people.”
But he also said the district had embarked on a six-month investigation by the administration regarding allegations against the coach. He said the district spoke with dozens of people as part of that work, including both defenders and detractors of the coach.
Given Monaco’s success, popularity and beloved status by so many people, he said, the investigation would have had to turn up something serious to negate a 24-year record.
“Nobody knows what I know,” Martzloff said later. “I’m the only one who knows all the facts of the investigation.”
Those familiar with Monaco’s circumstances said the coach has been accused of poorly managing the basketball program and making demeaning comments toward players. They said there’s been tension on the team between kids getting more playing time and kids getting less, and that the parents of players who saw little court action were behind the harassment complaint to police in June. Amherst police investigated that complaint, and no charges were filed.
Monaco supporters weren’t buying Martzloff’s take on the facts, which weren’t shared during the meeting or afterward. They asked if Martzloff might reconsider his decision and maybe roll back Monaco’s punishment to probation.
They challenged whether Martzloff had taken the time to speak with Monaco’s ardent defenders or other current and former players before reaching his decision.
They asked whether more facts could be presented to exonerate their coach.
They also asked if the school board could overturn his decision.
The answer to that was no. The board can approve or deny annual coaching appointment recommendations, but they can’t bring back someone whom the superintendent has decided not to put up for reappointment.
Brandon Woods, who played for Monaco from 1998 to 2002 and has served as Monaco’s assistant coach for the last four years, said he believes the controversy stems from disgruntled parents throwing around the word “bullying” in association with the coach. Martzloff said parent complaints about playing time had nothing to do with the decision to remove Monaco. But Woods said parents of players who felt marginalized were the ones who have stirred up trouble.
“They threw around a couple of buzz words in the eyes and ears of the powers that be, and here we are,” he said.
Among the superintendent’s challengers was 2011 South graduate Joe Licata, a record-setting football and basketball player at South who is now the backup quarterback as a freshman at the University at Buffalo.
“As a player and person, it is always great to have someone that believes in you,” Licata said. “My dad, my mom and my three sisters have always believed in me for 19 years. I met coach Monaco in fifth grade; he has believed in me since fifth grade. He’s supported me since then. I’ll always love coach Monaco. He’s done a lot of great things for me.”
He told Martzloff he wronged a good man.
“I know, Joe,” Martzloff responded. “He was there for you.”
But Licata wasn’t privy to all the facts, he said.
“I know the facts,” Licata answered.
The board did not meet Tuesday to discuss Monaco’s situation, but rather to appoint a school board member to fill the remainder of an unexpired term created when Stephanie Gelber resigned last month.
The board ultimately appointed Peter Bergmann, president and CEO of Sisters of Charity Hospital, which includes St. Joseph Campus. Bergmann said he plans to run for re-election next year, when the term for his current seat expires.
The public was not invited to speak during the meeting. But they had plenty to say before and afterward. Among those present were current and former coaches, players and basketball officials.
Also in attendance were Monaco’s wife, Mary, as well as the youngest of their four sons, 16-year-old Matt.

One former player of Monaco’s traveled from Syracuse to support Monaco. Tim Creahan, a 1998 South graduate, wrote a letter supporting Monaco to the board in advance of his attendance and spoke with the superintendent following the meeting.
“For the amount of time that he put in to volunteer and coach me and make me a better player and person, I felt like the least I could do was make a four-hour trip to support him,” said Creahan, who played three years of baseball and three years of basketball for Monaco.
Senior Pat Stasiak, 17, said he and his teammates are still shocked that they’re losing Monaco as coach.
“The team is just kind of upset that this would happen,” he said. “He’s a good coach. Just look at his stats.”
Monaco led South High to sectional championships each of the last two years and split the ECIC II league title last year with Williamsville East.
He is credited with being a good mentor who helped launched the careers of many athletes.
“I’m just really disappointed and sad,” said former player Chris Barrett, who played from 2002 to 2005.
Barrett credited Monaco with developing his career, which continued after high school when Barrett joined the basketball team at Nazareth College and his current career as a teacher and coach.
He called Monaco a mentor whom he never saw engage in any behavior that would warrant removal.
“Never in my time,” Barrett said.
Chris O’Connell, who played for Monaco from 1998 to 2002, said he never saw the types of harassing behavior that Amherst Police investigated.
On the contrary, he said, Monaco has gone out of his way to make room for players who were “nice guys” but not necessarily the best players.
“He’s always been more than giving,” O’Connell said.


email: stan@buffnews.com and kmcshea@buffnews.com