Mullen Parents Start Online Petition To Get Coach Logan Reinstated

DENVER (CBS4) - Parents are angry that Mullen High School fired one the most popular and successful high school coaches ever.

Dave Logan won four state championships and the parents can't understand why Mullen let him go. Now they're planning on delivering a petition to the school for the reinstatement of Logan and the dismissal of Mullen CEO Ryan Clement and Principal Jim Gmelich.

"I think it's very sad for the community and for Mullen. He built a good program and I'm just very disappointed," parent Lynn Freyta said.

"I can't see any reason for it. I don't think they took into account the kids at all. They're devastated," parent John Hill said.

The parents have created an online petition to the Board of Trustees asking for the reinstatement of Logan and the firing of Clement and Gmelich. So far more than 800 members of the Mullen family have signed. Wednesday night parents will present the signatures to the board.

Junior Zach Rios spoke for his fellow teammates.

"I think we lost the best coach in Colorado and that's not good," Rios said.

The school has not said why Logan was let go but in a statement said the new coach must be "a full-time member of the faculty and be able to engage in every aspect of school life."

Most coaches at Mullen are not full time. Parents say the problem started when Logan refused to add several assistant coaches, including Clement, a former college quarterback.

But for Logan's supporters, it may be too little too late.

"I thought if he would leave he would leave on his own terms -- go out like he wanted to go out. I never thought they'd fire him," Rios said.

Logan says he appreciates the support but is moving on and doesn't want to hurt the students at Mullen.

Parents will go to Mullen High School at 6 p.m. Wednesday to present the signatures to the board and hopefully get some resolution.