Atholton girls basketball coach Maureen Shacreaw said she was released from her basketball position after school on Friday, Dec. 23.
"I've been let go as Atholton's coach," she said. "I'm just blown away that they did that to me."
Shacreaw has been Atholton's varsity basketball coach since 2000-01. This is her 12th season with the team. She also coached the Raiders' varsity softball team for nine years.
Mike Senisi, Atholton's Athletics and Activities Manager, said he could not comment on the situation nor clarify whether Shacreaw was placed on administrative leave from her coaching position or fired.
Senisi deferred all questions to Jennifer Clements, the school's principal, including who Shacreaw's replacement will be. Clements is out of the office until Jan. 2.
"They said I didn't communicate with my team," Shacreaw said. "I felt like they smacked me in the face with that."
According to Shacreaw, she was also faulted for poor communication with her assistant coaches, failing to manage the team in a positive way and canceling practices, including while her son was in the hospital.
The accusations stung even more because former players have been dropping by to see Shacreaw this week while they are home on college break.
Two years before Shacreaw took over the Atholton varsity team, the Raiders had a combined 1-35 record.
Under Shacreaw's leadership the Raiders won a county championship, a state title (2006-07) and have twice been state finalists. Her overall record entering this season was 160-106.
However, this year's team, which has seven seniors, is 0-6 in county play and 1-7 overall.
"I've given my world to that school to that basketball program," Shacreaw said. "I've never had a bad evaluation in my 12 years. How can you fire me? …I feel gypped."