JV Football Coach Responds to Dixon High Dismissal

Dixon High School Junior Varsity Coach Troy Hensley led his 2011 team to a 9-1 record and secured its second straight Golden Empire League Title.

Despite that, Dixon High Principal John Barsotti and Varsity Coach Wes Besseghini did not ask Hensley to return as JV coach next season, prompting a huge backlash among several Dixon High players, parents and coaches.

Hensley did not return three calls for comment on this story; he said via text message on Friday he would call Dixon Patch for the story, but as of press time Monday evening, Dixon Patch had not received any phone calls or messages.

However, Hensley spoke to the in a story available here and outlined the problem that he created for himself by winning all of those games.

“It started burning at the beginning of the year, and the disconnect began after week one, and I think that came from us being successful and the varsity not being successful … They wanted to point a finger and place blame on someone other than themselves, and it was easier for them to make me a scapegoat. It was the same song and dance the year before too,” he told the Dixon Tribune according to the story.

Dixon High School Athletic Director Tom Crumpacker said that he did not play a part in Principal Barsotti’s decision to cut ties with Hensley and retain Besseghini. During last week's meeting of the Dixon Unified School District's Board of Education, several players commented about their discontent with Coach Besseghini.

“It’s not a popularity contest,” Crumpacker said. “Obviously Barsotti thought Wes was the guy to be the coach.”

The Rams’ varsity team finished the 2011 season with an overall record of 4-6. Dixon’s won its final four games after an 0-6 start to capture their first Golden Empire League championship and a playoff berth. The JV team finished 9-1 and won its second-straight GEL title.

Crumpacker was not at last Thursday’s school board meeting

Crumpacker said those that spoke in front of the board have a right to do that.

“People have the right to go express themselves,” he said. “That’s why we live in this country. People can do those things.”

Among those commenting during last week's school board meeting was . He told the board that he was given a choice between attending high school at Dixon or going to Vacaville High School. The Bulldogs won the division II Sac-Joaquin Section championship this year.

Pangelinan said that he was promised a chance to be recruited to play college football if he stayed at Dixon. He also told the board he stayed with the Rams “because I was promised my hopes of playing college ball.”

“Unfortunately, I regret that decision, as far as football is concerned,” Pangenlinan said. “I have no colleges interested in me and I have not had help from any of the coaches or anybody from the program. If we had a better season, I probably wouldn’t have need the help from the coaches anyway.”

Crumpacker said that most athletes at small schools need to seriously stand out to be noticed by a major school.

“If you’re good, they’re going to find you,” he said. “I wouldn’t blame Wes and his coaching staff for not being looked at by colleges.”

Crumpacker said most four-year schools have scouts that oversee talent at games.

“You have to be exceptional to be noticed by a four-year school,” he said. “It’s rare from a small school. It really is.”

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