Volleyball coach's firing causing rift at Hillsborough high school

Laurie Calder-Green was terminated as coach last Thursday from Cedar Ridge High School, 1125 New Grady Brown School Road. She also coaches women's basketball and is chair of the English Department, according to the school's Web site.

She is still teaching.

"She is tough and disciplined, but this only prepares us for the real world where parents can't control everything for us,” a volleyball player said.

Players, parents and peers packed a school board meeting Monday evening to voice support for the coach, who has a reputation for being tough.

"I'm not a big fan of this coach, I can tell you as a fellow coach. But I can tell you this, she produces great young women. And what you have done with your decision has done more harm to these women that anything their coach could do,” coach John Egger said.

School administrators aren't commenting on the termination, saying only that it is a personnel matter.

WRAL News spoke with the coach on the phone Monday evening. She says she was shocked and disappointed, but didn't offer any details.

With just two weeks remaining in the volleyball season, players and parents say they feel lost.

"I'm devastated that they essentially destroyed the volleyball program at Cedar Ridge High School,” parent Elisabeth Penland said.

The coach was named Conference Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2004.