After 39 years and more than in high school basketball, including three provincial championships, Pitt Meadows basketball coach Rich Goulet will no longer be beside the bench.

He鈥檚 not happy about the way he has been asked to leave, and neither are many of the Marauders鈥� alumni.

Parents from last year鈥檚 team complained to administration, and Goulet has been 鈥渇ired鈥� from the program he built.

Mike Alain was selected for Goulet鈥檚 first Grade 7 all-star team, and was coached by him from 1994 to 2000 鈥� a run that ended in a provincial championship.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 appreciate him more,鈥� said Alain. 鈥淢y mom has reiterated to me many times that I probably would not have graduated if not for him.鈥�

The headstrong Alain clashed with Goulet, who sometimes yelled until he lost his voice during a game. But Alain never felt Goulet was treating him unfairly.

He said Goulet deserves accolades and to retire on his own terms 鈥� not to be forced out of the game.

鈥淚t makes me sick to my stomach,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat high school owes him. How is that gym not named after him?鈥�

Bruce Duthie was coached by Goulet from the age of nine until he graduated 鈥� also part of that 1992 team.

鈥淚 have a huge degree of respect for him,鈥� he said of Goulet, and would like to see him honoured on his way out.

鈥淗e pushed us, he was in our face, he worked our asses off, but it was never to the point of, This isn鈥檛 right.鈥欌��

But some of the kids on last year鈥檚 senior team were not used to it, and Goulet believes that鈥檚 part of why he was asked to quit coaching.

鈥淭hey think I was negative, because I gave a lot of speeches about what they needed to do to get better.鈥�

Goulet outlines a frustrating season, where many of his Grade 12 players were simply not willing to work up to the standards of the program. He said he had to fight with players, and bench them, to get 鈥渁 basic effort.

鈥淲e weren鈥檛 even competitive at triple-A 鈥� My goodness.鈥� he said. 鈥淚 never ask anyone to like me when I coach them. I just ask them to do what I want them to do.Maybe I got cranky.鈥�

If he crossed a line, he said some of the players were also disrespectful to him.

His assistant coach, Ron Wallsmith, doesn鈥檛 recall any incident that would have led to Goulet losing his status as coach.

鈥淭hose things don鈥檛 stand out in my mind,鈥� he said.

Goulet said the school board conducted an investigation into parent complaints, and afterward he was asked to return and help run the program 鈥� but not on the bench.

鈥淲hy would I do that? You just fired me as a coach,鈥� he said.鈥淚鈥檓 not here to impose myself to people who don鈥檛 want me.鈥�

Neither the school board nor Pitt Meadows secondary principal Mike Keenan would comment, saying personnel matters must remain confidential.

Goulet feels he was not given a fair hearing. He had been retired from teaching for 14 months, coaching as a volunteer, and says the school administration can dismiss a volunteer at a whim.

Walton said coaches around the province have pulled out of Pitt Meadows鈥� annual Air Show Tournament, and threaten to boycott games against Pitt Meadows. Their schedule could be affected.

Goulet is going to miss it.

鈥淚 won鈥檛 miss all the work, or going to practice at 7 a.m. in a freezing gym,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I love basketball, and I love people who love basketball.鈥�

Goulet鈥檚 accomplishments:

鈥� ;

鈥� ;

鈥� Three-time provincial champion coach;

鈥� Coached approx. 4,000 games at all levels;

鈥� Has been coaching high school basketball in 1965;

鈥� Coached provincial and national teams;

鈥� Founded and administered the Steve Nash Youth Basketball league in Pitt Meadows.