Chatham softball coach Allie Reid Scott lashes out on Facebook, announcing her resignation

“In my five years I have dealt with more than any human should endure,” said Scott of interactions with the parents of her players

In explaining her decision to step down as Chatham High (Virginia) softball coach, in a social media post, Allie Reid Scott lashed out at team parents for countless negative interactions she endured with them. /

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on May 25, 2024.

For five years, in her words, Allie Reid Scott has had to deal with a lot as the varsity softball head coach at Chatham High School in Chatham, Virginia. 

Those days are now over for Reid Scott.

In a detailed and emotional Facebook post, Friday, Reid Scott revealed she had resigned as coach of the team and lashed out at team parents, stating that she has had countless negative interactions with parents, some who banded together in organized attempts to oust her from her position.

The public Facebook post made by Reid Scott has nearly 2,000 shares and over 3,000 reactions. Down below is the text of her social media post.

Reid Scott led the Cavaliers to 41 wins in the last four years. Here is the text from her social media post.

“Today it is with a heavy heart that I announce my resignation as the Chatham High School Softball Varsity Head Coach. In my five years I have dealt with more than any human should have to endure. I have been attacked in parking lots by parents, screamed at during practices by parents, bashed on Facebook over and over, had parents banning together to have me fired, had multiple meetings with my AD of parents calling having nothing but negativity to say about me, and much more. And most of this time all these accusations about me, my decisions, and this program are nothing but false from the minds of selfishness who refuse to see the perspective of a coach and a team we are trying to build.

My goal as a coach has always been to teach these girls how precious this game truly is and to show them how much this game can teach you not just on the field, but in handling anything life has to throw them. I have not just been a coach, but I’ve been a mentor, a therapist, a friend, a mom, a shoulder to cry on, and anything that they could possibly need. We have entered a time in this world where accountability does not exist. Parents believe their child deserves anything and everything, and they should not have to work at earning a spot on the field or work towards a bigger goal to be a better player, teammate, and person. The amount of lies and stories being spread has become the main topic of conversation instead of the facts and what is really happening within a team and the culture we are trying to build. We as coaches see so much more than what you do, but I’ve come to realize there’s no changing how you feel, the way you will respond, or the negativity that will always come with the title as being a head coach.

Being a head coach is one of the hardest jobs there is. We take the brunt of any decision that is made and have to listen to the constant lies being spread behind our backs without the right to even defend ourselves for the sake of protecting the integrity of the program we are trying to build. But building a program is hard when players and parents only see themselves instead of the bigger picture of being a good teammate, a team player, and just a fan in the stands cheering on more than just their own kid, while sitting back and letting the coaches COACH. I’ve had many sleepless nights wondering what I can do to be a better coach, a better human, a better person to serve the girls I’ve had the pleasure of coaching. In the end, nothing I do or have done will ever be good enough.

So it has come to a time where I need to take a step back and focus on my family, my mental health, and finding joy in life again and in coaching. My will to coach has been crushed and it is something that has eaten at me every single day for the last five years. I pray these parents will see that I only ever had their children’s best interest in heart. Being tough does not mean I don’t care. It means I see so much greater in them that I was trying to get out. At the end of the day, I am human and I also make mistakes. There are moments I wish I could take back and there are moments where I wish I would’ve done something different, but again I am only human and my intentions were always in the right place even if they didn’t come off as always seeming that way.

I will take this time to focus on what brings me joy and that is my lessons. I cherish the kids who want to be with me and want to spend their weekly hour with me striving to get better at the sport that has brought me so much more than just a little yellow ball. To whoever takes over this program, I pray they are able to reach this group of players and parents more than I was able to. This decision did not come easy and it did not come without a lot of prayer and guidance from my mentors and those who have been with me every step of the way. To the kids and the parents who had my back and understood what I was trying to do, I am sorry, truly from the bottom of my heart. I am never one to give up, but there is time where I have to choose myself and that time is now. Thank you for allowing me to be the head of this program for the last five years and I wish nothing but success for the future of Chatham High School Softball. I please ask you to respect this decision and refrain from any negative comments or attacks towards me and what I feel is best for myself. I wish you all nothing but the best.”

- Allie Reid Scott

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports