After impassioned plea, future of Stewartville volleyball coach still up in the air

A southern Minnesota hall of fame volleyball coach will still have a spot on the bench – at least for the time being.

Stewartville's school board decided Monday to table its decision whether to renew John Dzubay's coaching contract, after he was accused of violating three Minnesota State High School League rules, KTTC reports.

The suspected infractions include:

• Out-of-season coaching by a member of the varsity volleyball coaching staff.
• Using athletes to help run a skills class for first- through sixth-grade girls on Sundays during the volleyball season.
• Strongly encouraging players to use the open gym during the summer to get extended time for the mile in the fall.

The board plans to discuss Dzubay's future at its next board meeting, which is scheduled for March 9, about a month before the MSHSL decides its punishment for Dzubay's infractions, according to the Support Coach Dzubay Facebook page.

Dzubay spoke at the open meeting, which was packed with his supporters, saying he has dedicated decades to the school's volleyball program, noting the MSHSL bylaws were unclear. But now that he's aware of them he will make the changes to his program, reports note.

At its next meeting, the board could decide to table its decision until after the MSHSL makes its ruling.

But the school's athletic director, Tim Malone, says he's confident the MSHSL would impose harsher sanctions if the school board doesn't take action, according to the The Stew Crew, which live tweeted the meeting.

The MSHSL is expected to make a decision on April 2, KTTC says.