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Brad Ficek quits amid questions over Chock
Oregon's club baseball coach leaves after a dispute involving the dismissal of a former player
by Jacob May | Sports Editor
Oregon club baseball coach Brad Ficek resigned Monday following a disagreement with University administrators about whether a former team member with a criminal record should be allowed to help the team.
Ficek said officials lied to him about whether former player Travis Chock would be allowed to help coach, but EMU administrators say Ficek initially misunderstood their position that Chock is banned from all team activities.
"I'm resigning because I feel that I've been mistreated and abused in this situation," said Ficek, who played on the team for three years before becoming coach in 2004-05. "I don't appreciate the way my name has been thrown around and slandered."
Ficek's resignation stems from an incident last spring involving Chock, who pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted theft last spring. Chock and teammate Peter Phillips were caught trying to steal Oregon memorabilia being stored in the University facility at the former Joe Romania car dealership that housed the team's batting cages.
After the incident, the team was put on a one-year probation. In order to regain use of the cages, Ficek agreed to sign a contract written by the EMU administration that spelled out rules for how the team could use the batting facility, he said.
EMU officials oversee the Club Sports program.
The rules mandate that Ficek remove a lock on his door and a pingpong table from the facility, he said.
Soon after he signed the contract, Ficek said, he was asked to sign a second one with a clause stating that Chock would be banned from involvement with the team.
Ficek wanted Chock, who had served 40 hours of community service and written a statement apologizing to the EMU administration, to return as a volunteer coach.
Ficek met with Gregg Lobisser, the Director of Student Activities for the EMU, who told Ficek that Chock wasn't banned from being on University property and that volunteering as a coach would be fine, Ficek said.
Ficek said officials lied to him about whether former player Travis Chock would be allowed to help coach, but EMU administrators say Ficek initially misunderstood their position that Chock is banned from all team activities.
"I'm resigning because I feel that I've been mistreated and abused in this situation," said Ficek, who played on the team for three years before becoming coach in 2004-05. "I don't appreciate the way my name has been thrown around and slandered."
Ficek's resignation stems from an incident last spring involving Chock, who pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted theft last spring. Chock and teammate Peter Phillips were caught trying to steal Oregon memorabilia being stored in the University facility at the former Joe Romania car dealership that housed the team's batting cages.
After the incident, the team was put on a one-year probation. In order to regain use of the cages, Ficek agreed to sign a contract written by the EMU administration that spelled out rules for how the team could use the batting facility, he said.
EMU officials oversee the Club Sports program.
The rules mandate that Ficek remove a lock on his door and a pingpong table from the facility, he said.
Soon after he signed the contract, Ficek said, he was asked to sign a second one with a clause stating that Chock would be banned from involvement with the team.
Ficek wanted Chock, who had served 40 hours of community service and written a statement apologizing to the EMU administration, to return as a volunteer coach.
Ficek met with Gregg Lobisser, the Director of Student Activities for the EMU, who told Ficek that Chock wasn't banned from being on University property and that volunteering as a coach would be fine, Ficek said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Jordan Shaw
posted 10/31/06 @ 11:46 AM PST
The EMU administration's handling of U of O club baseball is appauling, specifically Lobisser's communication with Brad Ficek. I am ashamed and embarassed that someone who made a mistake and served his debt to the community is unable to offer his expert services to the baseball program due to beurocratic confusion. (Continued…)
Jim Rome
posted 11/01/06 @ 10:43 AM PST
War a club team being called a "powerhouse". Haha
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