Bell hired as coach at Weaver
He replaces 6-year veteran Hatchett, an alumnus of the high school
Weaver High in Hartford made the decision last week to not rehire boys basketball coach Reggie Hatchett, replacing him with Shawn Bell, who also coaches Weaver’s cross country and softball teams.
Hatchett, a Weaver graduate, had coached the team to a 121-51 record since 2014, appearing in three straight championships from2014- 16 and winning the Class M title in 2015. He confirmed the news that he wasn’t returning Tuesday.
“Holding the Weaver boys basketball coach position has been one of the most enjoyable experiences and powerful experiences of my life,” Hatchett said. “I had no plans on leaving that position anytime soon. ... I never considered for one second leaving Weaver because of how important Weaver is to my community, and it is to me, because I did my job in such a way that brought pride back to the community. I don’t understand why the job was basically up for grabs in the first place.”
Weaver principal Glynis Richardson could not be reached for comment. Athletic director Sterling Scanlon said he is not allowed to comment on personnel decisions, and that “every coach in the district must follow the same re application process every year and we as a school saw that process through.”
Hatchett was placed on leave last season after an incident at a game against Middletown in January in which a Weaver player took his jersey off, threw it onthe court and left, visibly frustrated, according to multiple witnesses. The player returned and charged at the coach before a teammate stopped him. Hatchett was reinstated soon thereafter, following an investigation which cleared him of any wrong doing. The team refused to practice while Hatchett was on leave.
Earlier that same season, Weaver was docked three wins for use of an ineligible player, which the team self-reported.
In addition to his current duties at Weaver, Bell has been an assistant coach for Windsor’s football team for 10 years. As coach of Bulkeley last season, Bell led the team to an 8-12 record, andthe 26th seed in the Division IV state tournament.
A Weaver alum, Bell has also been a security guard at the school for several years. He’s run the Northeast Community Brotherhood Leadership program since 1998.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to coach at my alma mater,” Bell said.
Shonta Browdy, secretary of Hartford’s board of education, questioned the practice requiring coaches to reapply every year.
“I am surprised, I don’t understand it,” she said. “To me, from a community standpoint, I’m like, really? It does not make sense to me.”
Thedecision to not rehire Hatchett has been met with confusion in some corners of the Weaver community. Dawne Gittens, a mother of a former Weaver player, said she was not surprised, but is disappointed in the decision.
“I kind of thought they were trying to get him to quit last year,” said Gittens. “There has not been a coach at Weaver that has produced more kids from the street, from not being able to graduate to walking across the stage and graduating. He’s a great mentor to them. He looks at more than basketball. When I’m sitting in these practices, he’s 99% of the time teaching them life skills, and not about X’s and O’s. He advocated for the kids in danger of failing.”
Gittens transferred her son, Dashon, to Woodstock Academy after last season, with concerns surrounding how the school has handled the basketball program.
Stephen Wilson, a Weaver graduate and former member of the Weaver Steering Committee, which oversaw the school’s growth and development in recent years, said heexpects backlash from the community over the school’s decision.
“I don’t know of a coach who is more synonymous with Weaver,” said Wilson. “Since the beginning of last season, I don’t think [Hatchett] was given a fair shot. I don’t think he was given the opportunity to show the effect he has on kids. ... I question why a staple of the community is being treated this way.”