MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin — More Milwaukee Public Schools coaches are speaking out against problems in the interscholastic athletics program.

“Our voices don’t matter, they haven’t mattered for two or three years, five years, ever since he came in,” one coach said.

The coach is referring to MPS Athletic Commissioner Bobbie Kelsey.

On Monday, Jenna Rae spoke with two fall sports coaches who said they were not getting paid.Now he’s talking to winter and spring sports coaches, who say they’re even more concerned when they see Rae’s research after this fall season.

Dozens of MPS coaches held their annual winter sports meeting Thursday night.

“Usually it’s an informational meeting, but I mean, we don’t really know what’s going to happen today, who’s going to be there, what it’s going to be about,” one coach said.

We spoke with three coaches who asked to remain anonymous and said they want answers after years of turmoil in MPS athletics.

Another coach asked, “What is the plan going forward, are we going in a different direction, are we going to make the changes necessary for us to be successful as a school district, as coaches, as players?” he asked.

Last month TMJ4 learned a few things Sports teams had to forfeit matches because management failed to submit paperworkcoaches were not paid on time and There are no referees either..

Coaches, referees and area staff tell TMJ4 News it all depends on Kelsey.

“It’s kind of like a dictatorship. It’s either his way or there’s no way. If you have to side with the kids, you should at least listen to what the coaches and the people in the trenches say,” added another coach.

These are the trenches that these three coaches have been in for a total of 43 years.

“If you care about the kids, you fear the program,” one coach said.

“Coaches are giving up their time,” another chimed in.

“Just in the city of Milwaukee, these sports bring people to the game, bring people together. Yeah, it’s the biggest district, we’re building the city,” the third coach said.

Rae asked the three coaches, “Have you guys considered leaving?” he asked.

They all answered yes.

“There’s something about these kids that makes it very difficult to walk away from you, because a kid you move away from may read about him in the paper or be in jail. Without us, they have nothing. They have no father figures, there’s no one. “Talk, there’s no one around,” the coach explained.

This letter below was sent to the MPS Board of Directors last week.

Sent

It was signed by a concerned employee of the Milwaukee Recreation Department, which is affiliated with Interscholastic Athletics.

“Commissioner Kelsey’s leadership has created a toxic work environment characterized by a hostile work environment, disorganization and lack of direction, unfair hiring, and retaliation,” the employee writes.

“Something definitely needs to be done about this,” one coach said.

Rae asked, “What is this?” he asked.

“Change,” all three coaches responded.

Rae asks, “What does this look like for you?” he asked.

“Different leadership,” they responded.

We reached out to MPS district leaders regarding these concerns but did not receive a response.

Some board directors said they received the letter from the employee in question but could not discuss personnel matters.

The coaches said Kelsey spoke to them briefly during Thursday night’s meeting and apologized, but in their words deflected much of the blame.

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