Complaints Led to Firing at Damascus

Parents Alerted School Principal About Football Coach Makosy's Debts, Lawsuits

Damascus High School football coach Dan Makosy, whose teams won state championships three times since 2003, including the Maryland 3A championship last fall, was fired last week.

"We appreciate everything Coach Makosy has done, but I felt it was time for a change," said Principal Robert Domergue, who refused to explain the reasons for the dismissal. "It was a hard decision."

Makosy acknowledged his firing and said he would like to remain coach, but declined further comment on his dismissal.

According to sources, parents complained to Domergue about Makosy's personal financial issues. Makosy is not a full-time teacher. He said he works as a "painting contractor" and receives a stipend of $5,712 from the county for coaching Damascus. Makosy has been sued more than 30 times in Maryland district and circuit courts for failure to repay debts, according to state court records. Between 1993 and 2007 there were 21 judgments reached against him for a total of at least $508,000, according to the records. Plaintiffs include his former business partners and Montgomery County.

"We've heard speculation about Dan Makosy's business dealings for years and we closed our eyes to it," said the parent of a player who said she spoke to Domergue earlier this year about Makosy's finances. "It made us stop and look. I wanted to know what was true and what was not. This man coaching our kids is not a role model."

Makosy acknowledged his financial troubles in a story in the Examiner newspaper in December, saying: "I haven't done anything illegal. I've never stolen money from anyone. Do I owe some people money? Yes, I'm paying them back. But it takes time."

Some parents want Makosy reinstated. Paul Frazier has three sons who have played for Makosy, including middle son Kyle, a senior who quarterbacked the Hornets the past three seasons. Frazier said he and another Damascus parent, Gary Phelps, spent the weekend contacting each of the 69 players who expect to return to Damascus next year to solicit their opinions on Makosy.

"They're all in favor of having Dan as the coach," said Frazier, whose oldest son, Greg, was a Damascus assistant coach this past season, and whose youngest son, Connor, is a freshman. "I also spoke to about 30 parents who said they had nothing against him remaining coach."

In 10 seasons under Makosy, Damascus went 102-20 and reached the playoffs every year, a current streak no other Washington area public school team can match. Damascus won state championships under Makosy in 2003, '05, and '07, giving the school seven titles overall. Only Seneca Valley (12) and Allegany (eight) have won more.

"The only thing known for sure is there are a handful of parents who have problems with Dan's business reputation. They're really going after him, and I don't think it affects him as a football coach," Frazier said, adding that he plans to request a meeting with Domergue this month in the school auditorium, where parents can ask questions regarding Makosy's dismissal.

Staff researcher Meg Smith contributed to this report.