Wyoming Football Coach Resigns After ‘Hurt Feelings Report’
A high school football coach in Wyoming resigned in the wake of controversy over an offensive questionnaire he distributed to his players called the “Hurt Feelings Report.” The survey used homophobic and sexist language to demeans any potential complainer as a “little sissy” and “girly-man.”
The sarcastic form asks the player if they have “permanent feeling damage” or if they “require a tissue for the tears.” The paper was handed out to the players before a play-off game last month, according to the Wyoming Tribune.
At a public meeting last week, the Johnson County School District board announced that Pat Lynch would resign as head football coach for the Buffalo Bisons and as a weightlifting coach. However, Lynch kept his position as the school’s guidance counselor, under the stipulation of administrative supervision.
The document also featured a “reasons for filing this report” section where the person could check boxes by the relevant issues, including “I am thin skinned,” “I have woman like hormones” and “I am a cry baby.”
It also included other more vulgar options. Below the list, there is a line for the “name of ‘Real Man’ who hurt your sensitive little feelings.”
“We, as a company, take hurt feelings very seriously. If you don’t have a mommy that can give you a hug and make it all better, please let your supervisor know and we can provide you with a surrogate,” the form read. “If you need them, diapers, midol and a ‘blanky’ can also be supplied.”
At the bottom, there were three lines for signatures, the “name [of] little sissy filing report,” “girly-man signature,” “real-man signature (person being accused)” and the supervisor.
A letter of apology from Lynch was read at the meeting:
“I would like to apologize for my lapse in judgment and the poor choice that I made from my position as the Head Football Coach for Buffalo High School,” the statement said. “I know that this situation has caused you pain and discomfort, and for that I am truly sorry. As a person and a professional, I believe I will learn and grow from this experience and use it to help others.”
“I appreciate having had the opportunity to coach in this community for the past 22 years. It has been a rewarding experience,” Lynch wrote. “I am eager to earn back your trust as I continue to serve in a profession that I truly love.”
The high school would not comment on the decision to allow Lynch to retain his position as guidance counselor.
“As that sits with us, we’ve definitely classified that as a personnel matter. And we have no comment on it,” Chad Bourgeois, principal of Buffalo High School, told ABCNews.com.