SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs City School District is alleged to have not adequately handled “a toxic culture of alleged abusive coaching” in a legal complaint filed by lawyer Martin Greenberg representing Safe Athletes for Everyone (SAFE).
Included in the letter are complaints against girls varsity cross country/track coaches Art and Linda Kranick, as well as girls varsity soccer coach Adrienne Dannehy and former girls varsity lacrosse coach Katie Hannan.
The letter by SAFE requests, in part, the firing of the coaches involved, and for the State Education Department to investigate the district. It also requests the district’s prior athletic directors be fired or reprimanded, and for the district to issue a public apology.
Many of the complaints were filed anonymously. Statements are included from runners, parents of runners, parents of former girls lacrosse and girls soccer players, as well as from a girls soccer and a girls lacrosse player. The letter states that many chose to keep their identities anonymous due to fear of retribution.
One former runner, 1989 graduate Kristen (Gecewicz) Gunning, attached her name to a statement alleging the running program is “a toxic culture of control and abuse of middle and high school girls all in the name of winning.”
Gunning stated the coaches would restrict runners’ diets, clothing, and who they associated with. Other anonymous statements also claim instances of overtraining or training through injuries.
“The message was always strong and clear from the Kranicks: run through illness and pain,” part of Gunning’s statement reads.
A 2020 letter from former Board of Education member Steve Grandin to school officials regarding concerns about the cross-country teams training out of season was also included in the SAFE complaint.
Ann Marie Pendergast, a parent of a former girls varsity soccer player, described the girls soccer program as a “demoralizing and unhealthy culture” in a letter from July. She also wrote letters in 2015 and 2016 to district officials regarding Dannehy, which were included in the SAFE letter.
The letter was addressed to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, Commissioner of Education Betty Rosa, Chancellor Lester Young, and NYSPHSAA Executive Director Robert Zayas.
A statement provided by the district states that, “The Saratoga Springs City School District cares about each and every student. We take any matters of alleged abuse or bullying very seriously.”
“The district was notified of a letter sent to New York State officials that contains allegations concerning some of the district’s athletic programs late on October 4,” the district’s statement continues. “The letter was not sent to the district directly. While the allegations in the letter are very concerning, any allegations that the district ignored or did not address the complaints referenced in this letter are completely false. We are not able to comment on any individual personnel or student matters included in the letter.”
“As a district, our goal is to provide a positive experience for all our student-athletes, on and off the playing field. We appreciate the dedicated efforts of our professional coaching staff and the ongoing support of our families and school community. We will continue to review the allegations with the goal of providing a more detailed response at an appropriate time.”
