" I am so ashamed of Arcola right now. Coach Kiger was the best thing that happened to Arcola football. I was wondering, did Coach Kiger miss the tackle, miss the punt, or not make the touchdown? Since he did not have a uniform on, why is it that he is taking the blame for something that the ENTIRE team had a part in? Just curious!!!! "

" THANK GOD!! "

" Didn't miss the tackle, but more important missed how to treat his players like humans w/feelings and hearts! Be-littling teens is not the answer! Hats off to the School Board at AHS! "

" For the first time, I am ashamed to say I am a graduate from Arcola High School. This coach has one losing season and the board gives up on him. I realize that all coaches do not need to be coaching. But, everyone deserves a second chance. I hope the board knows what they are doing, because they just lost another great coach. I wish Coach Kiger the best of luck! "

" belittling, putting too much pressure on the kids should not and was not tolerated..adjustments should have been made offensively and defensively during the game to adjust to the other team, it was not..there is more to varsity to arcola football, it starts at the freshman up and the JV team was very disorganize, the first JV game they didnt even know the plays or what positions they were going to play, because they were tackling "dummies" for the varsity. yes, a coach doesnt takle or punt but the players learn from the coaching staff. the team lacked some key fundamental skills which they should have learned as freshman, when the coaching staff first started out. the "talks' at half to the team were way out of line, no way to motivate a team to go bust their butts the second half. this team lost respect of some of the coaches early in the season and it would never be gained back. I hope the next coach realizes that the freshman and sophomore needs to be coached as well "

" It's most likely more than just the losing seaon. It's the way he treated the players, his behavior/demeanor on & off the field, and the list goes on. For those of you who think Mr. Kiger is held at a such a high standard with regard to his coaching abilities, he shouldn't encounter any problems pursuing another football coaching career. "

" As far as belittling goes, kids and parents are too soft these days and the kids need to take responsibility for giving up and not playing with any heart. The coaches have seemed to do things the same way for four seasons as far as discipline on the field yet this year going 1-8 seems to be the true problem with Arcola. "

" Putting too much pressure on the kids? Are you serious? The point of playing the game is to win...As a former athlete, having that pressure on you makes you play harder because the coaches have put their faith in you as a player because they know you have that talent. "

" I don't typically post to these. But I just can't sit by and read these baseless statements. I know Jarod. He is my brother. So you could say that I may have a biased opinion. Trust me he doesn't need me to stand up for him. I have coached with Jarod and I can say that never once have I heard him belittle a player as so many of you on here have stated. I know for a fact that fundementals were taught. Now if the kids don't use those on the field then that shouldn't be blamed on the coach. Now that being said, if constructive criticism or being upset because a player isn't performing up to their potential as he knows they can, is belittling then my definition is way off.

I have been to a majority of the Arcola football games while he was coaching. So many of you were willing to go praise him and think he was the greatest thing since sliced bread when the team was winning. Where were the negative comments then? It is awful coincidental that he doesn't get the football job back when the team is losing. Everybody wants to knock him down. It is easy to kick someone when they are down.

Three playoff appearances, 1 of them semi-final, a conference title, and coach of the year. That speaks for itself right there. But he would never take the credit for that, not his style. He praised the kids. It seems that some of you are crying sour grapes because your kid can't take criticism very well.

He built up the weight room and got a weight program going. Too bad not everyone showed up for that. You gotta put the time in if you want to get better and he held up his end. He studdies film, goes to clinics, takes the kids to passing camps and 7 on 7. I know for a fact that he spends all his time on football and for you to sit there and say that he doesn't make adjustments to the other team....well let's just say you probably know nothing about the game and leave it at that.

As far as the JV being "tackling dummies" When you only have 40 kids out and a majority of the varsity plays both ways, it is logistically impossible for them not to have play scout team offense/defense. Those are opportunities for them to possible get better and maybe earn playing time. That is the problem with kids today. They think they are entitled to everything and don't have to work for anything. If you want to play in the sun expect a few blisters "

" I have to agree, it's more than the losing season. My high school football teams experienced losing seasons and Coaches Thomas & Bradford were not asked to resign because of it. Why? Coaches Thomas & Bradford continued to coach and teach, and never game up on their teams. They didn't try to destroy their teams' morale by telling them they aren't champions. Everyone has rebuild seasons! The senior boys this year are champions! Some weren't given their opportunity to shine, and in my opinion that is a reflection on the coaching staff. Fortunately they will rise above what happened to them during football. My only concern at this point is how the students in the classroom will be affected by the fact Kiger knows he is done with football and could possibly be done with baseball after this year, pending how the season goes. Are his classroom students suffering, too? (Too bad he can't take those parents with him who were shouting condescending comments to the players during the games from the end zone.) "

" I am also ashamed to say that I am a alumni from arcola. I played there for 4 years and watched watson get fired by the school board and now seeing kiger get let go is just stupid. They just need to to figure out what they are doing, because they will never go to state firing off coaches because the team cant get to the playoffs one year. I feel that they should have gave him a second chance and now they will get hurt because he built so much at arcola and now it will be differnt to see another coach try to come in and change the program, which wont happen because its not always the coach it the players too. "

" I find it hard to believe his "brother, THE GUY " is unaware of the harsh belittling comments he made to the Arcola marching band during a home game in 2007 The school, school board, and administration where all very much aware of his four letter rants directed at the students as they attempted to play their instruments in support of the football team. Coach Kiger was disciplined and made to apoligize to the band members. Thank you Arcola school board. "

" if you notice that either at carrolton or arcola, that as time went on his coaching record got worse? last year in a quote he stated "we have to be more balanced" about a game and they went out and won it. last year their main running back carried it around 60-65% of the time, this year the main running back carried it over 80%.. good running back but not hard to guess who is going to get the ball..the full backs averaged over 5 ypg and they did a heck of a job when givin the ball, be it very little. when plays did work they were hardly, if ever, used again in the game. kiger is a very nice guy but tearing down the "play like champions"sign and telling them they dont play like champions doesnt do much..telling the players at half they they "if you want to continue to suck.." is not a motivator. telling them "here are the next state champions" on first day of practice..is that too much pressure on teenagers?. are you saying that they didnt have time to atleast get the JV organized when they should be before the first game....defense 2 interceptions all years, arcola has intercepted as high as 24 in one year..players fault no...telling and showing the players how to play defense coaches fault yes...5 times in one half of a game either 3 and long or 4th and long (atlest 6 yrds) the other team got a first down...arcola gave up the 2nd most points in the conference this year..every playoff game arcola lost since his tenure we got blown out, the ones arcola won..by less than 10 pts..yes i admit arcola had a lot of injuries, i went to the orion game 56-0, wouldnt that be a good time to put in the subs when it is 40-0 or less to get the subs experience..no they wait till 2 mintutes left in game to put subs in..there was one game when the coaches put some subs in with less than a minute left to go in a take a knee..arcola had a great big lead in a game with a few mintues left in first half and were calling time outs and trying to get it to 40 or more at half that is unsportmanship, would arcola like that if tables were turned?..it doesnt seem like arcola could ever finish a game on an up note..and it isnt kigers fault but to start the season out lasst 2 years at -0-2 doent help, lost to both very very good teams, makes it hard to dig out of a 0-2 start, not saying they need to schedule easy teams, but to travel over 200 miles to play a game on a friday nite to a great 2a team is not right...the 20-0 loss to a team that had not won all year pretty much summarized the season..they players didnt care because of the coaching staff's lack of right direction "

" You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.

-Kenny Rodgers (The Gambler) "

" pshh.. this guys was ridiculous overall. Bad baseball coach, as well as football. Unsportsmanlike in so many ways. Didn't treat the players well at all. Hopefully he's a better teacher than coach. I guess the quote "don't quit your day job" is going to help this guys out! "

" i played for kiger for 2 years...and he was a great coach...i have 2 years left and i wish he and coach walworth would be there for those 2 years. Coach never made me feel belittled or put TOO MUCH pressure on me. And he treated us like humans with feelings. I respect Jarod Kiger and Brody Walworth more than any other two men because they always wanted the best for the team. And they also helped us with issues off the field. I wish both coaches the best of luck and I'm deeply sad to see them go. It was a poor decision made by the board. "

" I just have one question, Was Coach Kiger given letters of repremand during his winning season? Was he made aware of there complaints then? And the comment made
"possibly be done with baseball after this year, pending how the season goes". Does that mean, you want to see if he wins or not? Just curious. You have a former player confirm my thoughts, he was a good coach, didn't belittle the players, and only wanted them to play like he knew they could. Obviously some parents got there feelings hurt by there child not playing. "

" why does Illinois want zook out now..he had a great season a couple of years ago..now a losing season and they want him out..it is the fact that he has the talent but did not use it to his best ability..ditto in arcola..no answer as to why the JV was not organized, did not get playing experience at varisty level. arcola was great several years ago when subs played when could, to get experience at varsity level..and the band case he did get reprimanded about it..and i was told by a close person to the team that kiger and brody most always made the refs mad at the beginning of the games, therefore no close calls would go our way....look at the baseball record the last fews years...good 3-4 years ago..terrible the last 2 like 4-20 or something like that..he does not properly teach the kids fundamentals..the first few years he coached they were good, why, because the previous coach taught them fundamentals and again, players turning jr and sr's they lack the basic fundamentals just like in football...it starts to show up in time..you can say he built up the weight room, but they didnt always have it and won several state championships..so weight room isnt everything...it seemed like this year the play calling was terrible by the coaching staff this year as per by comments from before..there is more to an offense beside the tailback..if you want to look at stats the last few years it will confirm it and then compare our records..also look at the championship of 78 and 85 teams and you will find over 3000 rushing by 2 different players, and in 85 had nearly 900 yards passing..pretty balanced teams..for some reason the coaching staff wanted to change the coarse of the offense and after a few losses they didnt try anything new...it is time for a change for arcola ...even people in the crowd that is not football "smart" was able to call the next play for arcola. some people are very nice people but are not head coaches "

" Ok, I have seen the practice plan and he teaches the fundamentals, whether the kids are willing to take in is a different story. Most kids, thanks to their parents, think that they know more than the coaches...What is up with this too much pressure crap? When my coaches said things that you claim Coach Kiger was saying to his kids, it made me play twice as hard to make sure I proved my coach wrong. When a coach stops getting on you about doing something wrong or stops pushing you to go harder, that is when you need to get worried.

As a friend of Jarod Kigers, I know that he would have given anything to put on one of those uniforms and go out there and play every night. And he does not like to lose. Why would he give up on the kids when he cannot stand the whole losing game.

The band, back to that again? Get over it! As for the guy from 1972, everyone needs to quit living in the past and let those boys have fun and do things their way...The officials? Why would a coach try to jeopardize their team by making the officials mad before the game? Now, you are all making excuses. Get over it!

He is a wonderful teacher and you cant say that about many of the educators in that building.

Face it, the board got rid of one good coach with Watson and now they have just lost another one. Its probably the best thing the board could have done by getting him away from you people...not the players but their parents and the other brilliant spectators. "

" i personally saw kiger get repromanded by the refs after the game at lovington..after he went after them..brody was in between he and the ref and the ref said "im going to report you" is that a good role model when the kids are within listening distance
"everyone needs to quit living in the past and let those boys have fun and do things their way" from the guy in 1972..well the kids didnt have fun and didnt do things their way when players(that were on the field)told the coaches
what offensive plays would work and the coaches wouldnt do them (i heard this too when a player made a recommendation) to a coach and they continued giving it to the tailback..why cant anyone answer about the JV team or the constant handing off to the tail back 80-85% of the time..when something doesnt work wouldnt the coaches change their game plan? "

" I'm not going to get into a posting war here, because this is really over and done, and I would just be wasting my time and energy. But I wanted to address a couple of interesting posts for a final time.

The band "incident".... please... that was 2 years ago get over it. I was at that game. Last time I checked there was a playoff football game getting ready to begin not a band concert. The so called "incident" you are referring to almost cost the team a delay of game penalty because the band decided to put on a full concert and not get off the field. People paid to see a football game not the band. You need to get both sides of the story....

As far as the Lovington game goes....those refs were awful...They took 5 mins to discuss each penalty. And then after the game the offical came to the coach not the other way around.

It seems to me that some of you need to listen to the people who are actually there at games and practices(the players), and stop believing in rumors. If you say there was lack of motivation, well you need to look in the mirror as well before you start pointing fingers. How's the saying go, "those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". The minute the team started losing everyone left or didn't even show up to the games. What message is that sending to those kids? The coaches didn't quit on them...

Where were all the negative comments when he and the team were winning? No one seems to have an answer for that. Seemed to me to be political. If you are not from here(Arcola or area), we'll give you a shot and be your buddy, until you lose then you're outta here. Sad but seems to be true. Stop living in the past....Arcola got rid of a good coach.... "

" from "the guy" "As far as the Lovington game goes....those refs were awful...They took 5 mins to discuss each penalty. And then after the game the offical came to the coach not the other way around"...then why was it at mid field..i personally saw brody talking to them then kiger approached them..i agree the refs were terrible, i was there and agree..i also heard (i was there) the refs say "im going to report you", so why would they say that if he didnt say anything appropriate or if they approached him....i have a close relative that plays for the team that tells me what has been said and done from freshman to varsity level...i have not missed a game for over 2 years so i personally have seen and heard a lot of things. .but it seemed like coach was lost this year..again look at the stats, which i correct my self..fullback average 7.7 yrs and 9.2 yrds per carry and carried it 36 times vs 192 times for the tailback..the years of winning seasons were much more balanced ever pre kiger "