New London — Roughly a week before New London Superintendent of Schools Cynthia Ritchie terminated the employment of now former high school athletic director Larry Washington, she sat with officials from the Eastern Connecticut Conference who drove to Central Office for a meeting.

Ritchie learned, according to ECC sources, that New London High was hindering the day-to-day business of the league, thanks to Washington's shall we say, limitations. He was cited, the sources said, for "lack of communication, follow through on league items and responsibilities and a failure to meet league obligations."

Translation: As long as Washington had the job for which he was grossly underqualified, New London would be the laughingstock of the conference. True, that office had been home to incompetence in the past. But never like this.

The athletic department has become a symbol of what ails much of the school system: systemic failure, stemming from a lack of supervision and evaluation of all parties involved. There is not enough — if any — accountability.

Except that the universe, through Washington's unfathomable eight-year failure to achieve and maintain his certification, has granted Whalerville a blessing. Athletics have a chance again. Washington's dismissal provides an avenue to full reorganization and rebirth.

The process to find his successor must follow different protocol than we're used to seeing in the 06320. No more shuffling people around within the system so their incompetence can grow new wings. The new athletic director assumes the position of leading the endeavor through which many New London people assume an identity. It's what "being a Whaler" means.

The hiring committee must consist of people who understand sports. Understand the city. Understand the kids. Understand the unspoken passion of constant effort, which the position requires.

In the meantime, Ritchie needs to lean on people familiar with athletic administration for a full audit and assessment of the athletic department's current state. I would call upon the wisdom of former athletic director Jim O'Neill, who still lives in town, as well as New London native and former Old Lyme and St. Bernard athletic director Bill Buscetto. They've run successful athletic departments. They get New London.

I'd also entrust the current athletic department to Missy Parker, the volleyball and softball coach, who was tending to many of Washington's duties as best she could. She just wasn't getting paid his six-figure salary. Several people around the school and city to whom I've spoken think Parker is a natural fit, at least for the time being. One fellow ECC athletic director, who has dealt with Parker this season, said recently, "Missy knows what she's doing."

It's just that Parker needs to be paid a stipend commensurate with her effort. I even know where they could find the money. I attended the Board of Education candidate debate in November at the Senior Center. During closing comments, candidate and current board member Jeffrey Hart proudly told the moderators and the audience that he "found" $500,000 in the Student Activities Fund. No, really. (And I have it on video). I'm stunned his revelation didn't have more legs, given that there are million questions pending about how it was found, where it was found, who has/had access to it, etc. But then, this is New London.

I'd even ask Parker if she'd be willing to return to school to get the certification she needs to do the job permanently — and in the meantime do the job as best she can with the help she needs. I know this about her: She cares deeply about the kids and the school. Good place to begin.

Washington's brief time as athletic director is both regrettable and forgettable. It concerns me the number of his colleagues and superiors who continued to defend him in the face of incompetence. I worry they're the same people who are going to make the call for his successor.

There are many people in and around New London willing to help. They must get this hire correct. It must be deliberate and detailed. Athletics count too much in New London to continue like this.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro