I am a parent of a student at charter oak high school.My child has nothing but good things to say about this coach.it's unfortunate to see that there are people out there so miserable with there own lives that they can't take the time to appreciate the people who are being positive roll models.Many of those coaches gay or straight volunteer many hours of their lives to help young kids achieve more things in life.for ur kids sake grow up.

When I got my credential, I remember most a prof. telling us we would be walking prototypes young people would fashion their lives after. With the photos I can cdrtainly understand the Principal's position.

What narrow minded, prejudiced people we have in charge of our schools. Was Mr. Stein showing sex acts in the photos in question? No! Have there been an comments about his abilities to coach? No! Before a lawsuit is filed and damages are requested, which we as citizens of this community will be forced to pay......reinstate this fine man to the position for which he was hired and was undeservedly fired.

If the photos are not obscene or show any illegal acts than his firing is crazy.

Charter oak water polo has had an openly gay coach for years (Howard) and has never had any problems with him. What a shock that the media has latched onto this and gotten all the facts wrong. He had 3 pictures on his facebook, 1 of him grabbing the crotches of 2 transgender people, 1 of him deepthroating a hotdog, and 1 of him with in a sexually inappropriate tshirt. He wasnt fired because he is gay (Charter Oak has never complained about their old coach) He was fired because he is an idiot. Anyone dumb enough to parade sexual pictures of themselves around when they are teaching at a public institution would and should receive the same treatment.

Oh wow heather I didn’t realize you were such an important and big-time editor, what with your “piece” you wrote and all. You pretentious scumbag. I’m not a cop and you show just how full of yourself you are by even thinking anyone even cares about your “pieces”. It will die in obscurity just like you and anything you ever aspire to do. I’m not threatened by your e-gangster ego calling me homophobic and I don’t shy away from your pathetic name calling. My point, which was clearly lost on you, was that the school has had an openly gay coach for years, but now it’s suddenly a problem? Obviously not. The problem is this idiot decided to post inappropriate pictures of himself on a publicly accessible page which his students could also access. Gay or otherwise, that is unacceptable and THAT is why he was fired. I don’t know where you people get off trying to make this into something it isn’t.

You're pathetic J.Erics, or shall I call you Joseph Maddox, detective on the Claremont Police force? Anyone who has seen the pics knows you're full of crap. He was in no way deep throating the corn dog since it wasn't even in his mouth in the picture, and as for the picture of him with the drag queens, Mitch is standing up in the picture with his arms around 2 drag queens next to him. He's wearing jeans and a button up dress shirt. In NO way shape or form is that dressing sexually inappropriately and he is NOT grabbing any of the drag queens crotches. I have seen every single picture in Mitch's picture albums and there is not one picture in there of him dressed inappropriately. Almost every single picture is of him and his daughter, him and his family or him on vacation river rafting. You are talking out of your derriere because of your homophobia that you've had towards Mitch since high school. Many parents at Charter Oak and especially on the swim team have come forward and talked about how you have treated both Mitch and Howard, calling them faggots. Not a week after Mitch was fired, you walked onto the pool deck and publicly humiliated Howard and a student and then denied it when the student's mom confronted you on it. You are sworn to protect and serve, not harass people who you don't agree with their lifestyle because you're a homophobic ignorant jerk. You're a coward and a disgusting human being who has no right to be a cop.

I am Joe Maddox, not J Erics (I have no idea who this person is). I will be submitting a letter to the Tribune (as well as to others in the school district) with the facts stating my side of the story. My issues have been with the head coach regarding his coaching ability and has never had anything to do with anyone's sexuality. I don't know Mitch Stein and I had nothing to do with him being fired or the anonymous letters/pictures. I have known Coach Hyde for over four years and my concerns regarding his coaching ability (or lack thereof) are well documented with Principal Wiard and started well before Mitch Stein was hired. Mitch Stein should take responsibility for his poor decision making in putting pictures on his social networking page that were accessible to his players. Obviously the school took the action that they deemed appropriate based on what they saw. They would not fire someone over their sexuality and open themselves to a lawsuit. Stop putting the blame on others and accept the fact that you made a mistake and move on from it. Those who know me, know that I have no problem with the way people live their lives based on their sexual preference. Those of you who don't know the facts are misinformed and ignorant.

You're full of crap Joe. You were heard by several people saying "I'm going to get that f'n faggot" the day before the letter was turned into the principal. You've known Mitch since high school when you used to gay bash him back then. I know the facts. Try again.

First of all Tara I have no idea who you are as you have no idea who I am. What you are alledging is absolutely not true and I would be more than willing to sit down with those people and discuss the allegations that I EVER called anyone that derogatory term. Again, the people that know me know that I am not like that and in fact I had a nice discussion with Mitch Stein today telling him exactly how I feel. I have not known him since high school. I recently found out that he was a freshman when I was a senior and I had no interaction with him in high school. So again, please get your facts straight before commenting. Have a nice day!

I heard about your "nice discussion". No one buys your act. You can put lipstick on a pig but it's still just a pig. Have a great day! :)

Again, I don't know you, and you definitely do not know ME! I could just as easily say that you are a "cop-basher" but I do not know you from Adam! So how can you claim to know me or when I am being honest or giving you an "act". You know what others have told you. YOU have not seen anything! YOU have not heard anything. As for others who claim to have heard me say something, they should man up and come ask me. I can tell you for a FACT (and I know it is a fact because I WAS THERE) I never said "I'm going to get that f'ing faggot" and I never even knew Mitch and I went to the same school much less "gay-bash" him back then. This is all because you apparently have nothing better to do with your time. And for the final time, anyone who knows ME would KNOW what kind of person I am, what I would do or not do. Anyone who thinks otherwise is ignorant and misinformed.

I am most definitely not a cop-basher as several members of my family are cops, sheriffs, and detectives. Amazing brave individuals who put their life on the line and stand up for people who can't stand up for themselves. Not jerks who use their badge to push people around, people like you. Say whatever you want Joe. Several people heard you say it, and I've heard from several people about what kind of person you are. People who have pulled their kids out of Charter Oak because of you and your kids. So continue to pat yourself on the back and tell yourself what a great person you are and try to make people believe it all you want. People who have had the misfortune of dealing with you know exactly what you are like. And with that, I am done here.

So see Tara, are you getting my point yet?? I am not a homophobic cop as you continue to state. You continue to bash me without KNOWING me. You continue to hide behind ALL THESE PEOPLE that say these things... no facts, no names... I am coming to realize that people can say anything they want about someone and have no accountability for it at all. And it is really interesting to think I could be so awful and horrible that someone would be forced to pull their kids out of Charter Oak because of me and not a bad word or complaint has been mentioned to me. And my kids... I would greatly appreciate you NOT bringing my children into your craziness. They are good kids and are unfortunately seeing first hand that verbally harrassing people, like yourself, are allowed to say anything they want. I hope that you have a great life associating with people that continue to lie to you and tell you stories. And since you have not had the "misfortune" of dealing with me you may want to stick to things that you factually know and keep your delusional opinions to yourself. I hope you do stick to your word that you are done!!!

Very unfortunate but typical that this is from Charter Oak Administrators.
This event is another nail in the Charter Oak district Coffin.
COUSD has serious immediate issues to address and COUSD choose this battle?
Decline in academics, k-6 schools being sanction by the state for low performance.
NO MONEY! Poor fiscal planning by elected School board.
Charter Oak is broke, both Financially and ethically/morally.
Two years ago Charter Oak had a racial scandal in the COHS yearbook racial slurs printed about the students with African American heritage. The school board was none responsive.
Always a lot of politics and administrative bullying in C.O. sports and C.O. staff . That’s the CHARTER OAK WAY COW a true acronym in COUSD.
The school board & administrators strategy is that by the time you figure this management style out, the student will Graduate & they don't have to deal with the parents any longer, on to the next crop of students.
Remember CHARTER Oak employee insiders are a very tight group, the student and parents will be gone in a few years. This is the C.O insider’s JOB, they aren't going anywhere, aren’t going to let you mess it up for them.
School board member Joe Probst recently said" We've been through this before, this will pass".
a hunker down mindset.
Charter Oak is basically a middle class JOBS program for the local self entitled employees. Have an IMPACT make parents VOTE in the COUSD school board election. Vote NO on AKERS CRUZ and PROBST