- May 3, 2024
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A petition has been passed around in an attempt to bring back Joey Lippo as the boys weightlifting coach at Matanzas High School.
Lippo, who has been the assistant weightlifting coach for both the boys and girls programs, was “relieved of all duties associated with weightlifting” on June 6, the petition states.
As of Friday morning, the petition had 183 signatures.
Lippo was integral in the success of Matanzas’ weightlifting program, leading the team to relevancy and players to state championships.
But beyond the weight room — beyond sports — Lippo has done a lot for his student-athletes.
Isaiah Lugo, who will be a junior when school resumes next month, said Lippo is the father figure he never had.
“He always checked up on me, not only so I can excel in the weight room, but also in the real world and the classroom,” Lugo said. “And he still checks on me.”
Lippo would tell Lugo: “I’d rather you be a successful person rather than a successful athlete, but if I can train you to be both, now we’re talking business.”
However, at Matanzas — as well as many other high schools — the weightlifting program and the football program are designed to work together. When former football coach Keith Lagocki stepped down (he was also the head weightlifting coach, per school policy), Matanzas made Lippo the head weightlifting coach on an interim basis.
An assistant weightlifting coaching position is directly tied to an assistant coaching position on the football staff, said Dr. Chris Pryor, principal at Matanzas. When new football coach Jeff Nettles took over the football program, Matanzas’ administration offered Lippo an assistant coaching position on the football team, but Lippo turned down the opportunity, Pryor said.
Pryor, in an email, said Lippo will continue to be a physical education teacher for the upcoming school year. “Like other P.E. teachers, some of his classes may include weightlifting. Mr. Lippo has been asked by Matanzas’ administration to continue in his role as an assistant coach for the girls weightlifting team. Mr. Lippo has not accepted this offer as of yet.”
The petition asks that Lippo be reinstated as boys and girls weightlifting coach.
“We believe that Coach Lippo was demoted without justifiable cause and that weightlifting at Matanzas High School will be irreparably harmed,” the petition states. “His attitude toward the program, his students, and life in general was something incomprehensible to people who don’t appreciate his value.”
