Athletes Petition For Reappointment Of Cumberland Track Coach

CUMBERLAND, RI — Student athletes at Cumberland High School are petitioning for the reinstatement of a popular girls running coach who was not reappointed by a school principal who was on the verge of retirement.

Vanessa Molloy had been head track and cross country coach at Cumberland for 15 years before June, when former Supt. Bob Mitchell declined to reappoint her. Mitchell gave no public reason for his decision, and the position now remains vacant.

A change.org petition to “Reinstate Coach Malloy” on Thursday morning had more than 1,400 signatures. “She brought girls together to celebrate a sport where you do not have to be the best, but encourages everyone to try their best. With this attitude, she created a team dynamic that turned into a family,” the petition reads.

Malloy was a running star at Providence College in the 1990s before joining Cumberland as a language teacher and running coach. She has twice been named “Coach of the Year” in Rhode Island. Her teams have won numerous Northern Division titles. Several of her athletes have gone on to run Division I track and field.

Patch on Thursday spoke with new Supt. Phil Thornton, who said the decision was made by his predecessor. He said that by law, he can't comment on a personnel matter. Thornton did say he is reviewing the situation and aims to make a decision sometime in July. He said the superintendent has sole authority over the athletic coach appointment process, and that the School Committee has no jurisdiction. Thornton started with the district July 1, only days after Molloy was removed.

School Committee Chairwoman Karen Freedman told The Valley Breeze she can’t comment because the committee was not involved in the decision by the prior superintendent.

A reporter for the Breeze spoke with Molloy on Monday night. “I was 100 percent blindsided by this,” Molloy said, “but we’re working on a solution.”