Quincy High School softball coach suspended without pay after social media post

QUINCY — Quincy High School softball coach Darrell Henze was suspended Friday without pay pending a termination to be decided by the Quincy School Board at its February meeting for violating the school’s code of conduct for coaches.

Henze said he was informed of the decision by Lisa Otten, the director of personnel for the Quincy Public Schools, and was given a letter spelling out the reasons for the suspension.

The move came one day after Henze posted on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, a reaction to learning the lights on both the QHS baseball and softball fields were being taken down immediately and would be replaced in the coming months.

According to Henze, a plan was made last September to replace the lights if they were deemed unsafe by playing standards and health life safety bonds were being used to purchase and install new lights. Neither the baseball field nor the softball field is expected to have lights for the spring season.

QHS athletic director Kristina Klingele said the athletic department is working on a solution so all baseball and softball varsity and junior varsity teams will not have any games impacted by the lighting situation.

Henze wrote on X: “Due to lack of foresight, deception, and improper planning, QHS Softball and Baseball will be without lights this season with no real plan as to when lights will be reinstalled.”

Henze was asked by school administrators to delete the post and he did not.

Reached by phone Thursday afternoon after his social media post went public, Henze said the lack of lights severely curtails moving the softball program forward. Last year, the Blue Devils finished 18-16 and won their first regional game since 2012. 

“We have to be able to play JV innings,” Henze said. “It’s going to be tough enough for us to get a varsity game in without lights.”

Editor’s note: This story will be updated.