Girls basketball players back former coach Amy Gumbert at McKeesport school board meeting

By: Michael Richter
Friday, February 2, 2024 | 3:23 PM

Dozens of supporters of Amy Gumbert packed Thursday’s school board meeting to speak out for the McKeesport girls basketball coach, who recently resigned.

Four players, family members and former assistant coaches spoke in defense of Gumbert at the emotionally charged meeting, which saw the board vote unanimously to accept her resignation.

“Did I walk away? I said I would resign if it meant that those kids wouldn’t come back,” Gumbert told the board. “I did say that. That is a true story. I didn’t want the rest of these kids to have a bad season because the rest of the kids didn’t want to play.”

Matt Miller, who also coaches the school’s football team, took over as the girls basketball head coach last week.

Junior Kash’mere Ford said she didn’t experience a “toxic environment” under Gumbert and her coaching staff.

“Yes, they pushed us, just like any other coach, though,” Ford said. “Any time they pushed us, they also made sure we believed in ourselves. They loved us just like one of their friends.”

Freshman Morgan McClung choked up as she talked about Gumbert’s passion for the team.

“Amy has always wished us to be the players that we could be — never belittled us or anything,” McClung said.

Freshman Blessing McClellan said she no longer looks forward to going to practice after Gumbert’s departure.

“I used to love coming into practice, like even if we were just running,” McClellan said. “I love coming into practice because I knew going there and learning from them, they were going to make me better as a basketball player and get me to where I want to be in life.

“Coming to practice now, it kind of feels like an after-school program. I just want my coach back.”

Ford, Lewis, McClung and sophomore Luciana Lewis all claimed that one of the team’s new coaches said they didn’t want to be a coach.

“Why would I want to be on a team if the coach doesn’t even want to coach?” Lewis asked.

“I was basically told if I don’t like it, then to quit,” Ford said.

Ford said she was yelled at by the team’s new coaching staff after she revealed to them that she planned to attend Thursday’s school board meeting instead of the game against Thomas Jefferson, which the Tigers won 61-37.

Ford added that she doesn’t feel as though she can be herself around the team, now.

“I feel like I’m walking on eggshells at any time for anything I say,” Ford said.

Lewis said the team’s new coaching staff is treating players “differently,” and the team would like to have Gumbert back as head coach.

“I feel that I’m taking a step back because my new coaches don’t care,” Lewis said.

The crowd, which filled the board room, cheered and applauded each basketball player after they finished speaking.

Tags: McKeesport