Another Coaching Controversy Hits Andover

ANDOVER, MA -- Parents have complained to Andover Little League about Coach Adam Beck, who also serves as the league's president. Beck reportedly used foul language when some of the players on his team refused to enter a batting cage that had been set to the maximum speed of 70 miles per hour.

Several board members resigned after a contentious board meeting, according to the Andover Townsman, which first reported this story. One of those board members, Josh Enter, said the players were not in danger and that he thought the issue had been resolved. "I think Adam genuinely cares about the kids," he told the newspaper. "Or why would he deal with this?"

The controversy comes after a school year that saw high school boys volleyball coach E.J. Perry placed on administrative leave based on what Andover High School Athletic Director Bill Martin called "credible enough" allegations into his coaching practices. The investigation followed an April 11 match in which senior Alex Shih refused to leave the court after Perry tried to substitute Matt Guthrie for him. After the match Perry stripped both players of their captaincy.

Perry was reinstated after the investigation. The town is still dotted with gold-and-blue "Respect Our Coaches" yard signs that began appearing in support of Perry this spring.

For more on this story, see the Andover Townsman. Subscribe to Andover Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.

File photo by Dave Copeland/Patch.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).