Thank you for this story. This is fine community journalism, and I enourage you to continue your reporting on sensitive subjects like this.

Hats off to the Board for not rushing to dismiss Coach McLoughlin on Tuesday night. As a Collingswood resident and parent of a high school student, I fully agree with Mr. Smith's assessment that those individuals asking for the change should be more forthcoming as to why they want the coach removed.

While I understand that Mr. Dorney is a capable teacher and coach, I would advise the Board to consider granting Coach McLoughlin another chance while working together to rectify concerns about situation handling. The Collingswood High basketball team has brought great pride to Collingswood, Oaklyn, and Woodlynne, and this is due to Coach McLoughlin's efforts. One bad season and/or a mishandling of a situation should not be sufficient grounds for not renewing his contract.

Wow, Mr. Smith is a volunteer coach of his son's team, and now is defending the head coach. I wonder if playing time has anything to do with this. My dad grew up with Mr. Smith, he shouldn't cast any stones. Coach do yourself a favor, and find another attorney.

Small town politics...

"His son (of the same name) is a student liaison to the Collingswood school board and a multi-sport athlete who played for McLoughlin."

Since Mr. Smith is African-American, as shown in the picture above, I can only conclude that his son is also African-American, in whole or in part. And, his African-American son is a student liaison to a board driven by racism? What am I missing here?

I was coached by Mr. Dorney and Mr. McLoughlin when I was in High School. I also coached with Mr.McLoughlin for 4 years. To call Coach Dorney a single minded coach and, not be able to mentor Collingswood kids just shows how much YOU do not know about Basketball, or what it takes to coach college basketball for 8 years. Mr. Dorney would be a great replacement for Coach McLoughlin if he does not get his job back.
As for Mr.Smith a "Real" assistant coach; does not miss a single practice or a single game for any circumstance, It is called a commitment "Coach". I was at a couple of games this year and I can see why, all the sudden you took coach McLaughlin up on that long time "coaching offer". In no way, shape or form should your son have started a single basketball game for Colls basketball; on that basis alone someone should be fired. I am not saying it is Coach McLoughlin but maybe yourself. So whatever Mr.Smith has to say is irrelavant in my eyes and anyone with common sense.

GO COLLS

Concerned Parent why it take 4 years to say something or report it to the board? Oh I got it your son is one of the kids Coach McLoughlin recruited from Camden to play 1 year. Coach Mcloughlin had no issues when he played the african american kids like Joey Soto, Dempsey brothers, Sterling Wilson, Brandon W, etc (what did they have in common? Collingswood, Woodlyn, and Oaklyn kids). Issue is when you Illegally Recruit "OUT of District kids"...I want to keep Coach McLoughlin but I think this is the issue that has him in hot water...
Colls 2004 Basketball Player

I caught you in a lie on the other article and now caught you again.You never played with us in 2004 and your true colors are showing. Making up things to escape from the truth.Concerned parent is absolutely telling the truth because we as players experienced it and so did our parents.I have followed our program and am proud of what we have accomplished then and all the years that followed. Face the truth.It happened then and is happening now.

"real 2004 bball player" I never said that I was on 2004 team at the high school. If you want to know why 2004 is at end of my handle it is cause I graduated from college in 2004. "J" is the only person on these post that makes any sense and is thinking logically. Coach McLoughlin is not being fired because of his win lose record, what color skin his players are, if he is a good teacher, etc. He is being FIRED cause of illegally recruiting kids to come play for his program. This is high school basketball not the movie blue chips. I know recruiting happens in high school sports and what not but a couple of the most recent kids really caused problems. Anyone with half a brain can see the reasoning behind coach being let go. This has nothing to do with race. You have to do things the "right" way and I guess Dr. Oswald figured that the negatives outweighed the WINS.
Coach Dorney and his staff will have alot of work to do but I think colls basketball will rebound and bounce back from all this...
2000 Colls grad if you wanted to know

If anyone has any specific stories to share on this issue, please e-mail me at matt.skoufalos@patch.com. I'd love to hear from anyone with a first-hand perspective on this situation.

Please stop saying Coach besides Pat Dorney name.Numbers don't lie.9 years as coach with 8 LOSING SEASONS and 1 winning season.A coach is one who knows how to run a program.He has proven he has know idea how to coach but if you listen to him he invented the game.I have talked to other coaches in college who say the same thing and how he's not respected or liked by his peers because of his "I am better then you and know more" attitude.They don't talk about his coaching because they know it's a win when they play him and has been over his head for his college coaching career.A couple of coaches told me they thought he would shut his mouth after his 8 losing seasons in 9 years but laugh when he actually gives them all the excuses in the world why he is losing. Everyone knows he doesn't have a clue how to coach but what really bothers them is his arrogant attitude and constant talking about himself as a great coach.8 LOSING SEASONS IN NINE YEARS.Please don't put the word Coach in front of his name.Only do it when he tells you because according to Dorney he invented the game of basketball

I'll be back in late July. Hopefully, all this is decided, and I can meet the new coach of Collingswood. Good luck coach Dorney. GFY I hope you have a great summer. Maybe you and McGloughlin can coach a 12 year old girls AAU team. I think they even let you recruit for that. I just wonder if they will be able to pick up the complex offensive from coach.

Regardless of Dorney's record and whether or not he is a good coach does not really matter. Does anyone realize how shady it is that they already had a coach ready to take over McLoughlin's spot before they even told him he was not going to be asked to come back? Typically, when someone is fired there is an interview process that goes along with bringing in a new coach. Seems interesting to me that there was a head coach already to step in before McLoughlin was even out.
And as stated previous times, McLoughlin has not played the race card. He has said absolutely nothing about the subject to any reporters or anyone else, so the race card bitching can end.

He actually didn't rally people to go to the meeting. People who support him contacted others that also support him and an overwhelming amount of people showed up on very short notice. It's a small town, word gets around. And I know nothing about the tapes, nor would I have them, so that was just an idiotic and pointless comment. Keep playing the race card though, it's been a few posts since you mentioned that.

I am not saying I am a Coach Dorney fan but K did he not recruit you or is this Mommy picking up for her son not being recruited? Most coaches including Joe McLoughlin have a little arrogance in them right? If j is coach dorney and K is a disgruntled mom or dad who cares. The bottom line is that Coach Dorney will be the head coach next year adn Joe McLoughlin will be some where else in south jersey hopefully. To colls alumni the high school process for hiring a coach is not same as in college or pro. Every year you must be rehired for the job by the school board. They already did the interviewing process and what not before they nominated Coach Dorney. It seems like Coach McLoughlin new this was going to happen with prior meetings with Dr.Oswald. I do recall couple years ago that the board meeting was full of Town residents, kids, coaches, teachers, and administrator support when they Fired then a teacher and now the head wrestling coach. All that did is get him tabled and Fired the next board meeting. Who is going coach the basketball team over the summer? is Neil Thompson available?

Hey Blue and Gold, maybe you are right. I was thinking with all the hatred and animosity that Joe McLoughlin was k. I mean only a few posts early were about Pat Dornery. K can't stop talking about him. He is consumed by him. Makes you think. I could really care less whom the coach is next year. I'm just on here to stir the pot, and it is working.

I usually don't post on these things, but I felt someone needed to say something. Everyone please stop replying to J. He obviously is only on here to just create more controversy than there already is, and it's working. He has everyone up in arms, and he is nobody. I think GFY said it best, all his posts are null and void. Stop giving him more ammunition. He is thriving off of it. Let's use this thread to find out the facts and be positive. I promise you he will go away if everyone just ignores him. I hope everyone is on board. Thanks for checking in J, but we have enough problems with hole thing going on in this town so please just go to a haddonfield thread. We'll make sure we set up a wonderful coming home thread for you in July.

Yoooo Joe we all know you are the one letter word names. If Pat Dorney would sell his mother and family down the river then Joe McLoughlin going to Hell for what he does JUST FOR A WIN against AUDUBON and GATEWAY. hahahaha...Just ask a guy like Coach Topeka and the other 8 assistant coaches that left over the years. Collingswood basketball is like the movie One flew over cuckoo's nest, the program is ran by the "insane" kids (Dunk the ball chief).
Can we stop with all this Joe is the greatest coach of all time non sense to please. What was his record hs first 5 years as the head coach? What was his record last year? All I am trying to say is it takes TALENT to win period. I am not blaming the coach for those down years in begin or for last year. I actually thought he did a good job last year developing freshman kids, but the years he was winning he had unbelievable basketball talent and players. Did he develop them yes, does he deserve credit for that yes, Should he have won more during those years YES. Hear is the question of the day...Is Morris Smith going be an assistant next year for Joe at Camden Vocational school?

I have been in the system for many years. #1. Ed Hill is a racist and has made comments in the school district #2 Ron Hamrick has short guy syndrome and is good friends of Pat Dorney. #3 When Pat Dorney left the assistance job he did nothing but sit on the sidelines make fun of Joe and the players and write to NJ.Com smashing Joe. #4. I have never seen a coach do so much to raise kids to be gentlemen. Joe not only coaches, but tries to teach the kids lessons of life..example:every kid learns to look in someone's eye when they shake their hands and to say thank you. This is not basketball this is a GREAT lesson for getting jobs and meeting people. I know personally several kids Joe has fed because there was no food in their home.

Colls Teacher you are an IDIOT. After monday Joe will be teaching those Life lessons to kids some where other than Colls High. Hopefully at his new school he can teach those kids to "look you in the eye" while shaken hands...hahahaha...What everyone has to realize is that Dr. Oswald is the one that is getting rid of Joe Joe. He is the head man in charge and is the person with the power. So after monday nights board meeting and all the parents (Along with the great Morris Smith) speak about white and black issue, we can all move on and get back to normal....well except for Joe Joe (I will be paying for his unemployment) dam it.... #Team Patrick Dorney

Well Pat will have a chance to get back to 500 with the Colls program after monday night. Rumor has it that they are trying to get Donald Trump to come and say Joe "Your Fired". lol. Handy, I agree with you thank god for internet it allows us to see that the kid Joe recruited from camden in 2010 dad was in Federal prison for Selling a controlled dangerous substance. In fact he was on the front cover of an FBI magazine, but just like colls teacher said above at least Joe teaches kids to look you in the eye when they shake your hand. Rumor has it Joe will be teaching at Jamesburg next year any truth to that? Last thing Handy what was Joe Joe record last year? or his first 3 years? YOU NEED PLAYERS TO WIN BUDDY.... Last time I checked Arcadia no power house in basketball before Pat and will not be after Pat (Takes the job at Colls High). I think you and colls teacher could have won more then 4 games last year in the colonial coaching or playing...hahahahaha..T minus 50 hours until Joe and Morris Smith start another adventure together in coaching. Morris will be on his staff at next school correct?

Hmmmm, Dr, O stated that all the coaches go out of their way to help kids as much as Joe does. I have never seen any coach do as much as Joe. As a teacher Hamrick was known to be real nice to the boy athletes and ignore the non-athletes. Joe treats EVERY child as one of his own.

Pat Dorney is a top-notch used car salesman, so much so he prolly toasted his wife with a tall glass of lemonade on their wedding night. Talk to any of his former college players, I've met many on occassion- they all hated him. Most arrogant ass in coaching. Not a man at all. Not a role model to maturing men at all unless its your goal to cultivate thugs. Most boring style of losing basketball u can watch. Game on the line, this jack-ass is too busy cursing at the refs instead of strategizing with his team. Liar, sneak, two-faced ass and not very smart. And proof any low life can get a teaching gig.