Old Lyme — Lyme-Old Lyme High School students, graduates and parents are voicing their support of a high school basketball coach whose contract was not renewed and are asking the district to reconsider the decision.

Superintendent Ian Neviaser confirmed that the school district did not renew Kirk Kaczor's contract for boys varsity basketball head coach. Neviaser said he could not comment further because it is an ongoing personnel matter. Kaczor remains a teacher at Lyme-Old Lyme High School and a boys' golf coach, Neviaser confirmed.

Kaczor did not immediately respond to phone and email requests for comment on Friday.

The school district received 16 letters supporting Kaczor. Dozens of people, including parents, current and former players, as well as some coaches and staff, showed up at Wednesday's Board of Education meeting to support him, according to parents who attended the meeting.

Jeff Hartmann, a parent of a basketball player, said Kaczor instilled hard work and discipline in his son.

“I think the teamwork and values of hard work and discipline go beyond the basketball court,” he said in a phone interview. “Those values matter later on in life.”

Hartmann wrote in his letter that the team has "matured into a hardworking, focused, caring group of young men” and noted that Kaczor was recognized as the Shoreline Conference's Coach of the Year. 

Jocelyn Jenik, the parent of a basketball player, said Kaczor is "a good combination of high expectations and support for the kids, at the same time."

During the 2016-17 season, the basketball team didn't have great chemistry and played as individuals, rather than a team, she said, and Kaczor took the feedback and completely turned around the culture of the team in one season. She said he clearly laid out his expectations for the team and met to discuss goals with team members.

"Coach Kaczor, treating players with respect and fairness, has built what once was a mix of self-oriented basketball players into a collective willing to give their fullest effort for the betterment of the team," her son, Raymond Doll, a member of the basketball team, wrote in a letter. "The success this year is rooted in the team dynamic that we all shared, and the environment and atmosphere surrounding our team has come single-handedly from our coaching staff-led by Kirk Kaczor."

Brian Ritchie, a parent of a member of the basketball team, said many team members are younger players who could go on to have many opportunities with the team.

“This group had a successful season and they're young and they have the opportunity to win a conference and compete to win a state championship and now their coach is being taken away," he said.

Carina Using said her son, who is on the basketball team, is devastated that the coach's contract was not renewed. Her son, as well as past and current players, regard Kaczor not only as a great coach but also as a father figure.  

"I believe he's created an environment where these boys care about each other to the point where they want to win for the team, for each other," she said.

k.drelich@theday.com