Coach firing justified

IU men's assistant tennis coach Mark Keil was arrested Sept. 23 for illegally entering a neighbor's apartment. Bloomington Police Department records say this took place while Keil was intoxicated.\nA month earlier on Aug. 18, he was arrested for public intoxication by the IU Police Department -- this just 13 days after he was hired as coach. Hired, then fired -- and with reason.\nHe might be an accomplished tennis player, having beat Pete Sampras in 1991 and stomped on Andre Agassi, Gustavo Kuerten, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and Mark Philippoussis in doubles. Keil might have reached number 32 in the world in doubles and 167 in singles.\nNo one can deny these are great achievements. Just like no one can deny IU looked at these credentials and knew he'd have a lot of tennis expertise to pass on to IU players -- the same IU tennis players who look up to him as a role model off the tennis court. \nWhile climbing that world-class rank ladder is something to aspire to, drinking excessively and getting arrested is not. If officials felt his tennis accomplishments took precedence over maintaining a professional composure, they wouldn't have fired him.\nAccording to IU's "Statement Of Principles on the Conduct of Participants in Student Athletic Programs," there are too many guidelines Keil has broken.\nSection 3.3.4: "Coaches shall conduct themselves so as to serve as a role model of both compliance with the requirements to which they are subject as participants in student athletic programs and the high standard of behavior required by this Statement."\nKeil definitely wasn't promoting a high standard of behavior.\nAnd most importantly, Section 3.4. notes the key issue. "The conduct of all participants shall reflect the fact that … they are representing the University."\nThat's the root of the problem. Keil showed disrespect not only for showing a lack of appreciation for his new position but for pushing that he believes he should still stand as a representative for this school. Do IU representatives promote excessive drinking? Do our representatives condone getting arrested? \nThey would if they kept him on staff. \nA lack of respect for our school, the athletic department and the tennis players is not a quality we should aspire to represent.\nMr. Keil, you can try to appeal the decision, but we don't think you have a case.