Photo by Rex Teter
By Christina Mlynski
Carroll Independent School District officials confirmed thatbrArthur Stanfield has been removed as head coach of the Lady Dragon volleyballbrteam.
Stanfield guided the 2013 Dragons to a 48-2 record, leadingbrto an appearance in the UIL statement tournament. Stanfield coached the varsitybrvolleyball team for five years.
“Arthur Stanfield has had a phenomenal record during hisbrtime as coach of our varsity volleyball team,” explains Carroll ISD AssistantbrSuperintendent for Board and Community Relations Julie Thannum. “He brought ourbrprogram to a new level, but we made a decision to go a new direction for thebrupcoming season.”
It's important to note that the coaching change will notbraffect Stanfield's teaching contract with Carroll ISD.
Southlake Carroll district officials emphasized that thebrdecision to remove Stanfield was not based on any one incident, complaint orbrbecause of any player's playing time.
Athletic Director Kevin Ozee described this decision to takebra new coaching direction as a result of “philosophical differences.” After abrreview of the program at the end of the season, Carroll ISD officials chose a coachingbrchange that was in the “best interests of Carroll ISD and the student athletesbrin the volleyball program.”
Stanfield's veteran coaching career led to a 272-40 record.brHe led Carroll to three straight outright district titles. Furthermore, thebrLady Dragons haven't lost a district match since 2010.
Carroll's varsity team featured Texas-bound senior Cat McCoybrthis past season. She recently played on the UnderbrArmour First-Team All-America team.
A new coach will be selected and hired by early April,braccording to Carroll ISD.
After the position is posted in the immediate future, thebrdistrict will form an interview committee. The committee will feature Ozee,brboys' and girls' athletic coordinators, a couple of varsity coaches from thebrathletic program, campus administrators and the Booster Club president, Thannumbrexplains.