Ex-Dexter High School football coach Tom Barbieri wants his job back

The Dexter Education Association filed a grievance on Barbieri's behalf after his firing. In a telephone conversation with AnnArbor.com today, Barbieri said Lucas disagreed with his assertion that proper protocol wasn't followed.

“Lucas denied the grievance,” Barbieri said. “You can’t do this without certain procedures.”

Barbieri is also a physical education teacher at Dexter High School. His teaching job is not in jeopardy.

Lucas told the Dexter Leader that he was fired by the school district last week, although the district would not confirm the firing nor would Lucas discuss if his termination was related to Barbieri's firing. AnnArbor.com's attempts to reach Lucas for comment were unsuccessful.

Athletics and facilities coordinator Greg Wagner, acting as Lucas' interim replacement, said the football coaching position would be posted internally. He met with Marshall on Tuesday and said Barbieri's grievance would be one item discussed.

Barbieri said if the current administration were to express a desire for him to resign that he would not.

“I want my job back,” he said.

Barbieri compiled a 30-60 record in 10 years as Dexter's varsity football coach. The Dreadnaughts were 5-4 last season, one win shy of the school's first state playoff berth. Dexter and Lincoln are the only two football-playing high schools in Washtenaw County to have never participated in the postseason.

Barbieri has coached for 34 years, with stints in Gaylord, Boyne City and Hartland preceding his time in Dexter. He will be inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in March.

Besides the 2010 season, Barbieri’s time at Dexter was under long-time athletic director John Robinson, who accepted the state's retirement incentive package.

Lucas was hired in May to fill a new position that oversaw the school district's athletic department and its community education department. Combining the functions was designed to allow the profitable community education department to cover the costs of the athletic department, which had been supported by the general fund of the school district's budget.