Views on Tooele coach aired

TOOELE — Shanz Leonelli either was a devoted baseball coach who put the well-being of his players before winning, or he was irresponsible because some Tooele High School baseball players allegedly videotaped sex with a girl at a tournament.

Such diverse and passionate opinions of Leonelli were expressed Tuesday night in a packed room of about 60 people at the Tooele School District offices. The public hearing was in response to Leonelli's resignation as Tooele High's baseball coach.

Leonelli stepped down as the coach Friday as authorities continued to investigate the videotape that was turned over to school authorities and then police by a parent. Leonelli will continue to teach journalism and English at Tooele High.

No one has been charged in connection to the incident, which allegedly occurred in a St. George hotel room during a March 11-13 tournament. According to KSL-TV, a police investigative report will be delivered to the county attorney later this week. Then prosecutors will consider possible charges.

The county attorney also said prosecutors have been assigned to handle four people in juvenile court and two 18-year-old people in adult court.

As Tuesday's public meeting began, a statement was read representing views of the school board.

"We find Mr. Leonelli's resignation regrettable but believe it is likely in the best interest of moving the baseball program at Tooele High School forward," the statement said.

"Mr. Leonelli is a fine young teacher at THS, is of high moral character and of unquestioned ethical standing. All information available to us leads us to believe that his work as baseball coach at THS was appropriate and honorable."

Leonelli did not want to attend Tuesday's meeting, said his representative, Edward Watson, a retired judge.

Leonelli's resignation after coaching for four years was the result of "political pressure," Watson said. "It was unhappy parents who didn't see their children play. And old-timers" who don't have all the facts.

"He was asked to resign by the superintendent," Watson said, who added the administration has "failed him."

Those sentiments were echoed by parents such as Tom Poyner, who also read statements on behalf of other parents who could not attend Tuesday's meeting.

"He was asked to resign, pressured to resign — making it easy on everyone else," Poyner said.