If you read this week’s article on Laura Berg, the NCAA National Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist and current Oregon State softball head coach, you know that long-time club coach Gary Haning played a major role in her development.

Coach Haning has led the OC Batbuster program for decades and won multiple club championships at the highest levels, including PGF and ASA 18U Gold titles, so when he speaks about a topic you know he has something worth listening to.

And if you’ve been around him for any length of time, you know the coach has strong opinions and isn’t afraid to share them, but always in an intelligent and well-articulated way.

Yesterday, he sent me a letter he received from a parent and the response he gave… you just have to check out his strongly worded response!

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Original letter from a father named Bill:

Coach Haning:

My daughter was hit in the head twice this weekend and has a concussion.

Her coach is unapproachable and did nothing. Can you give me some guidance other than take her to a doctor as to what to do?

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Coach Haning’s response:

Bill:

Get your child, your precious child, OFF of that team and away from that coach.

In today’s dawning of understanding the potential for long term brain damage caused by head trauma it is criminal for a coach to behave in this manner.

Do not permit her on any field for games nor practice until she is cleared, however long that takes.

Gary Haning