Beloved York Swim Coach Who Was Dismissed Sees Groundswell of Support from Community

A group made up of members of the York High School swimming community has been formed to "Save Dave," a varsity girls swimming coach who recently was dismissed by Elmhurst Unit District 205.

The district announced earlier this month that Dave Davis, who has been with the girls swimming program at York for more than 20 years, would be replaced.

"The York Athletic Department recently announced its intention to seek a new head girls swim coach," the statement said. "(Davis's) dedication to the sport of swimming and to the youth and families of the Elmhurst community will always be remembered. ... We extend our appreciation for all of his time and efforts."

Davis started the swimming program at York soon after the Aquatic Center was built in the late 1980s, Elmhurst Swim Team President, Alan Brinkmeier, said.

The York Girls Swim and Dive team had arguably its most successful season in 10 years this past fall, with more girls qualifying for the state meet than ever before, Brinkmeier said. Davis led the team to two Sectional championships, and his swimmers have set several school records.

He has a strong following in the northern Illinois swim community and his opponent coaches voted him IHSA Sectional Co-Coach of the Year for the Downers Grove Sectional in November 2011, Brinkmeier said.

Brinkmeier circulated a message on Facebook Thursday stating the group wants to let the larger community know about the "passion for swimming and being a good citizen" Davis has instilled in students, and to try to save his job. The group is selling T-shirts and planning to show up en masse at the IHSA Sectional Swim Meet at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at York.

"At the Saturday meet, we intend the support to be a respectful public representation in the stands by our attendance," the message says.

The group is calling for letters of support from swimmers, parents, officials, coaches and alumni, and has asked concerned parents to meet with members of the athletic department, York Principal Diana Smith and Superintendent David Pruneau.

Brinkmeier sent a four-page letter to Pruneau, who has agreed to let the group hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, at the district administration building, 162 S. York St., "to discuss the recent events that negatively impacted Elmhurst swimming and to broadly portray what the public thinking is about the future trajectory of Elmhurst swimming," the Facebook message states.

The meeting is being coordinated by Brinkmeier, who said he found out about the coach's dismissal at the eighth-grade academic night at York Jan 31.

 He said the formal announcement that followed on Feb. 8 "raised the roof" on the issue. Elmhurst Patch also received several emails around that time from concerned parents who said they were "devastated" and "baffled" by the decision.

As part of policy, District 205 administrators and staff do not discussed personnel matters with the public due to privacy considerations.