After 39 years and more than in high school basketball, including three provincial championships, Pitt Meadows basketball coach Rich Goulet will no longer be beside the bench.

He乌鸦传媒檚 not happy about the way he has been asked to leave, and neither are many of the Marauders乌鸦传媒� alumni.

Parents from last year乌鸦传媒檚 team complained to administration, and Goulet has been 乌鸦传媒渇ired乌鸦传媒� from the program he built.

Mike Alain was selected for Goulet乌鸦传媒檚 first Grade 7 all-star team, and was coached by him from 1994 to 2000 乌鸦传媒� a run that ended in a provincial championship.

乌鸦传媒淚 couldn乌鸦传媒檛 appreciate him more,乌鸦传媒� said Alain. 乌鸦传媒淢y mom has reiterated to me many times that I probably would not have graduated if not for him.乌鸦传媒�

The headstrong Alain clashed with Goulet, who sometimes yelled until he lost his voice during a game. But Alain never felt Goulet was treating him unfairly.

He said Goulet deserves accolades and to retire on his own terms 乌鸦传媒� not to be forced out of the game.

乌鸦传媒淚t makes me sick to my stomach,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭hat high school owes him. How is that gym not named after him?乌鸦传媒�

Bruce Duthie was coached by Goulet from the age of nine until he graduated 乌鸦传媒� also part of that 1992 team.

乌鸦传媒淚 have a huge degree of respect for him,乌鸦传媒� he said of Goulet, and would like to see him honoured on his way out.

乌鸦传媒淗e pushed us, he was in our face, he worked our asses off, but it was never to the point of, This isn乌鸦传媒檛 right.乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮�媒�

But some of the kids on last year乌鸦传媒檚 senior team were not used to it, and Goulet believes that乌鸦传媒檚 part of why he was asked to quit coaching.

乌鸦传媒淭hey think I was negative, because I gave a lot of speeches about what they needed to do to get better.乌鸦传媒�

Goulet outlines a frustrating season, where many of his Grade 12 players were simply not willing to work up to the standards of the program. He said he had to fight with players, and bench them, to get 乌鸦传媒渁 basic effort.

乌鸦传媒淲e weren乌鸦传媒檛 even competitive at triple-A 乌鸦传媒� My goodness.乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淚 never ask anyone to like me when I coach them. I just ask them to do what I want them to do.Maybe I got cranky.乌鸦传媒�

If he crossed a line, he said some of the players were also disrespectful to him.

His assistant coach, Ron Wallsmith, doesn乌鸦传媒檛 recall any incident that would have led to Goulet losing his status as coach.

乌鸦传媒淭hose things don乌鸦传媒檛 stand out in my mind,乌鸦传媒� he said.

Goulet said the school board conducted an investigation into parent complaints, and afterward he was asked to return and help run the program 乌鸦传媒� but not on the bench.

乌鸦传媒淲hy would I do that? You just fired me as a coach,乌鸦传媒� he said.乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 not here to impose myself to people who don乌鸦传媒檛 want me.乌鸦传媒�

Neither the school board nor Pitt Meadows secondary principal Mike Keenan would comment, saying personnel matters must remain confidential.

Goulet feels he was not given a fair hearing. He had been retired from teaching for 14 months, coaching as a volunteer, and says the school administration can dismiss a volunteer at a whim.

Walton said coaches around the province have pulled out of Pitt Meadows乌鸦传媒� annual Air Show Tournament, and threaten to boycott games against Pitt Meadows. Their schedule could be affected.

Goulet is going to miss it.

乌鸦传媒淚 won乌鸦传媒檛 miss all the work, or going to practice at 7 a.m. in a freezing gym,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淏ut I love basketball, and I love people who love basketball.乌鸦传媒�

Goulet乌鸦传媒檚 accomplishments:

乌鸦传媒� ;

乌鸦传媒� ;

乌鸦传媒� Three-time provincial champion coach;

乌鸦传媒� Coached approx. 4,000 games at all levels;

乌鸦传媒� Has been coaching high school basketball in 1965;

乌鸦传媒� Coached provincial and national teams;

乌鸦传媒� Founded and administered the Steve Nash Youth Basketball league in Pitt Meadows.