Mike Voelkel, the head baseball coach at Palisades High, has resigned citing “personal reasons,” along with varsity assistants Steve Heineman and Lee Sugich and junior varsity coaches Mike Winger and Will Gumm.
“I felt I needed to spend more personal time with my family and other endeavors,” Voelkel told the Palisadian-Post on Thursday, shortly after informing his players. “The kids on the team are outstanding young men, their future is bright and I’m confident they’ll have a great season.”
The Post has learned through multiple sources that several months ago a varsity baseball player was disciplined after violating the team’s conduct policy but the school’s board of directors recommended to reinstate the player.
Although he would not comment on the matter, Voelkel said he will remain a P.E. teacher at Pali High.
Russ Howard, Palisades’ baseball coach from 1987-03 and now the school’s assistant principal and Director of Student Activities, Athletics and Discipline confirmed the resignations of Voelkel and his staff and added there will be a board meeting Friday at 1 p.m. in Gilbert Hall to discuss the situation.
“I want to make it clear that there has not been an official board decision yet,” Howard said.
Voelkel led the Dolphins to a 123-86-2 record and six Western League titles in seven seasons, including a run to the City Division I semifinals last spring. Look for a detailed story in next Thursday’s issue.
— Steve Galluzzo
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