Coach Fired for Giving School Money

Scott Cate Fired at Utah's Cottonwood High School

Offensive coordinator Scott Cate was fired for being too generous. 

According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Granite School District in Utah passed the "Cate" rule which bans donors from coaching so the district will have more transparency in donations.

Cate not only donated his time to coach but since 2000 he also donated over $ 4 million dollars that he earned from selling an international telecommunications company that he built. Cottonwood High School used those donations to improve the weight room, press box and funded a brand new "turf" field  for the student athletes and an after school tutoring program.

Cate has invested in the tutoring center by paying for advanced degrees for people that would commit to working at the school for five years. Cate "was" working hard to really develop the student athlete at Cottonwood High School.

Some of his students have transferred in with F grades that are now earning A's. Some kids were involved with gangs who are now solid citizens. Cate stated that he want's to not just teach football but life skills for the students. 

Cate,  former quarterback at the University of Utah, initially became involved with the Colts when his sons began to play there. Alex, his youngest son graduated in 2006 and than played for Oklahoma State, however, Cate still stayed at Cottonwood High School and dug in deep to mentor and coach students at the school. 

Here is the statement that the Granite School District released:

With growing concern we have carefully watched audits and investigations proceed at high schools around the state. We have similarly participated in Utah State Office of Education trainings regarding state procurement laws and the state Ethics Act in the wake of those audits and investigations. In order to avoid conflict with applicable laws and statutes, the Board of Education of Granite School District is in the process of adopting a donations policy.

The policy follows the approach tried and proven by colleges and universities. While welcoming donations, record of the donations and their circumstances will be carefully documented. Similarly, boosters, foundations and donors will be recognized as appropriate yet will be invited to sit in the auditorium or stands, rather than participate on staffs or on the field.

While the policy has applicability across the district, it will have a specific effect at Cottonwood High School. Over many years Scott Cate and the Cate family have participated more than generously at Cottonwood – providing for facilities, equipment and opportunities in a broad variety of activities at the school. Additionally, the Cates have helped individual students personally, academically and even in the pursuit of higher education. The generosity has not ended despite the graduation of the Cate children from Cottonwood High School.

Recognizing systemic changes that need to be made, it will certainly be a change to see and hear Scott cheering from the bleachers or stands, rather than hear him bark encouragement from the sidelines at practice or during a game. In all sincerity, we thank the Cate family for their unparalleled contributions to Cottonwood High.
 

It seems to me that schools all across the country are looking for donations of both time and money that can be used to guide and teach students in a positive manner. Isn't that what Cate did?

The district obviously had Scott Cate in mind when they released the statement since they mentioned him by name. Good Luck hearing him cheer on the sidelines. He has decided to move on to either mentor quarterbacks himself or move to a district that doesn't have this rule.

Scott, I am a graduate of  Del Campo High School in Fair Oaks Ca and I am sure that they would be thrilled to have your support! 


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