Little is known for certain about why a Neshaminy High School coach isn’t returning this year, but a number of parents and students have spoken out supporting him.
Dave Chichilitti Jr., the former varsity softball coach, was not offered a contract to return this year. However, several people close to the situation that he had interest in returning.
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Sources close to the matter said Chichilitti was not being offered another year as coach due to complaints the district had received. A source said the matter does not involve anything of a criminal nature and has to do with him driving some players after their parents gave permission.
Neshaminy School District spokesperson Chris Stanley declined comment, citing that it was a personnel matter.
Chichilitti, who has worked full-time for roughly 15 years as a special education teacher at Bristol Borough High School, declined to comment on the matter.
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School board member Adam Kovitz said during the public work session this week that the decision not to offer Chichilitti work as a coach again was high school-level decision. He also said he spoken with members of the community, schools, and Chichilitti before stating he hopes there is a “smooth transition” for the softball team.
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The issue surrounding Chichilitti first became public when supporters spoke up at the August 20 school board meeting.
Parents, students, and friends spoke up in favor of the district offering a new contract to Chichilitti for the upcoming season.
“Coach Chic has given [my daughter] the confidence to travel without us to games and be an active member of the team … Everyone should have someone like Coach Chic in their life,” said Rachel Hughes, a parent of a special needs high school senior from Langhorne.”I’m asking the school board to hear his side of the story.”
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Kennedy Ruth, a softball player, tearfully told the board to keep Chichilitti. She called him not coming back to the team “truly heartbreaking.”
“This is about more than a coach. This is about somebody who has made a tremendous impact …. what he has done here in the community is beyond reproach,” said Mark Subin, a former Neshaminy School Board member from Middletown and a soft ball director for the Langhorne Athletic Association. He further asked the school board and administration to look at the situation in context.
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Middletown resident and Pennsbury High School softball Coach Frank McSherry, whose team enjoys a strong rivalry with Neshaminy, voiced his support for Chichilitti.
“I know where is heart is, it’s in the right place. Please consider that,” he told the school board.
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Other comments made in support of Chichilitti noted his work to get college recruiters to look at players and efforts to foster teamwork.
A rival league coach, who did not wish to have their name published, said Chichilitti is an intense and passionate coach who cared about his team and players.
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“This person deep down is a person who would take a bullet for his team,” the coach said. “There’s nothing that would change that. This guy is not replaceable.”
Chichilitti’s father is a member of the Bristol Borough School Board.
