Update: July 27, 2007
Mr. Ron Newquist finally released a check to my wife. My wife reports she received a check from this man on July 26, 2007 in the U.S. mail in the amount of $175.00.
Update: July 24, 2007
Illinois Wolverines Basketball Club owner Ron Newquist has not sent my wife the money he has promised.
Update: July 16, 2007
On or about July 8, 2007 my wife called Mr. Ron Newquist asking him about the money he promised to send her. Mr. Newquist told my wife he had been in Florida with his team and would put her money in the mail on Monday, July 9, 2007. We have not received our money as promised.
Beware parents, this man cannot be trusted.
Update: July 1, 2007
WHAT IS HONESTY AND INTEGRITY? NO REFUND GIVEN BY THIS HONEST "ABE"
Update: June 26, 2007
Mr. Integrity and Honesty has not sent us our refund. Do you think my story is false now?
Update: June 16, 2007
As of this posting, Illinois Lady Wolverines' Coach Ron Newquist has not relinquished the partial refund promised, yet he claims his club operates on integrity and honesty...I don't think so.
On or about June 5, 2007, Ron Newquist sent an email to me stating, in part,
I will give you a partial refund because you were so un happy with the situation. Remember this refund I send you is taking into consideration everything I have just laid out for you, many cost's have been incurred. I also will apply the $45 refund I gave your wife mistakingly for the warm-up suit. The cost deducted from your original fee paid in full ($670.00) is as follows:
two custom uniforms
custom warm-up top
custom bag
5 tournaments played
approx. 24 practices (gym rental)
partial coaching fee (divided by all players)
Total refund $220.00
- 45.00 refund given for warm-up suit
$175.00
Our refund according to Mr. Newquist is $175.00. When will we get it from the honest Mr. Newquist?
Update: June 9, 2007
Coach continues to threaten parent...
This coach sent another email reporting "You have had your fun slandering, defacing and trying to assasinate the character of caitlin Pauley, myself and my club. If you continue to do so in a public venue on your website I will take legal action. This is not a threat or any attempt to intimidate you, this is a promise...I will mail your partial refund next week."
I replied "You can take any legal action you want. I don't care who you consulted. Get your money ready. Do you think I am scared of your legal action? Just look for the counter-suit. Come on with it. I am not taking anything off my website. Now, let's get it on."
Update: June 7, 2007
Coach Ron Newquist emailed me stating, "I will also forward your sick and sad comments to Caitlin's father Lt. Micheal Pauley, Chicago Heights Police Dept. and her mother Cindy."
This suggest a threat to me. What is the Chicago Heights Police Department going to do to me? What is Lt. Pauley going to do to me? Will Lt. Pauley send his police department after me? This coach is attempting to intimidate me. I will not be intimidated or threatened.
This coach also suggest I am a racist because I told him the truth. The truth is the Illinois Wolverines team my daughter was on plays its white players more than they play their black players. This is truth. It is not a racial issue unless this coach makes it one. This coach believes by telling his "Lt." it will stop me from my "freedom of speech" rights. Why is it when you tell a "white" person about their indifferent treatment of a race, they call you a racist?
I have not received my refund from this coach as he promised. There is more to come.
Update: June 3, 2006
This was part of a communication I received by email from Ron Newquist on May 29, 2007: "As far as a refund goes you have received both uniforms, custom ordered, have competed in 5 of the nine guaranteed tournaments, received the warm-up top, custom ordered, also each player fee is divided by a number of players per team which includes gym rental (bloom paid) and coaching fee (partially paid). With all of that considered I will work out a partial refund concerning the final four tournaments."
I have not heard anything from him since he sent this email.
People perish for lack of knowledge.
I never told Ron Newquist Kristina played for the Angels.
Kristina should have received playing time because she made all of the Wolverines practices. She missed the 1st game on Sunday, May 27, 2007, because an error in the flyer the Wolverines gave us. The Wolverines should not put out information they know to be untrue. Coach Caitlin could have called the parents when she found out the scheduling had changed from Wisconsin to Libertyville, Illinois. Coach Caitlin communicates with Kristina all the time through text messaging, even though Kristina prompts the text messaging for other issues.
Ron Newquist feels Kristina should not have played because she played with Lady Fire in the AAU tournament. Ron does not admit the Wolverines were scheduled to play on May 26, 2007 only at Indy 500 Classic in Fishers, Indiana. Lady Fire was scheduled to play their tournament on May 26 and 27, 2007. We were ready to make adjustments for the Wolverines. Then at the "12th hour" the Wolverines scheduled games in Wisconsin, and I find out now in Libertyville, Illinois on May 26 and 27, 2007.
May 28, 2007
Illinois Lady Wolverines
Mr. Ron Newquist
Mr. Newquist:
I am writing today to discuss my some issues I have with how my daughter, Kristina Gaston, is developing with Caitlin as her coach. I am also writing to discuss my disappointment in scheduling of basketball games and practices.
Caitlin’s style of coaching is not conducive to Kristina’s growth as a basketball player. Kristina’s under-development with the Wolverines seems to be caused by Caitlin not allowing her to play to develop. Kristina’s team has lost more than their share of games, and this may be due to Caitlin’s choice of who plays and who does not play. I believe Kristina’s team may have in involved in 15 games, and may have only won 2 or 3. This is a direct result of Caitlin’s coaching style and biases.
On May 27, 2007 Caitlin started the same 5 players she always starts, which they have not produced to the potential of being starters. The starting 5 players got 4 points in 16 minutes. This was not due to the other team being better than the Wolverines, but due to Caitlin’s choice of not substituting until 4:00 minutes remained in the first half. The players Caitlin started in the first half were making numerous mistakes over and over again, but Caitlin chose to leave them in the game. The score at half time was 26 to 5.
Caitlin started the same 5 players in the second half. They produced 1 point in the first 7 minutes. It was 36 to 6 with 14:14 minutes left in the game with this starting 5. The final score was 45 to 11. Caitlin does not search for the right combination to win. This has been the problem since the beginning of the traveling team season.
When I chose the Wolverines for Kristina’s primary basketball team I thought you were going to be her coach. I shared with you how I believed you would assist her in her development as her coach because of how I saw you coach. I saw you as being fair, firm and consistent. When a player is not performing as you think they should or how you know they can, you will bench them. I saw how you talk to the players when you are coaching. I was looking for your type of coaching for Kristina. I was not searching or looking for the type of coaching demonstrated by Caitlin.
You and I have discussed this issue before but your belief was Caitlin is quite capable of handling a basketball team. I am not challenging her capabilities of handling a basketball team. I am challenging what appears to be her favoritism in choosing who plays and who does not play. Her favoritism is costing basketball games and creating despair among the players who are not getting any playing time. This traveling team, under the direction of Caitlin, is costing not only basketball games but the monies given by the parents. Personally, I did not get into this monetary burden and basketball player development agreement with the Wolverines to develop a coach. I got into this agreement to develop a basketball player. This is not happening with Caitlin as the coach.
I will now address the basketball and practice schedules. While talking to Caitlin on May 27, 2007 I discussed the handouts given for the basketball games during the memorial holiday weekend. Caitlin informed my wife and me that the only handouts she received and gave to the parents was the handout reporting the games would be played at Pleasant Plaines, Wisconsin. This contradicts what you told me.
My wife and child received a handout reporting the games to be played and the flyer reporting the games would be played in Pleasant Plaines, Wisconsin. Both pieces of paper were stapled together. Both pieces of paper were acquired on Wednesday, May 23, 2007, the last day of practice before the weekend games. We went all the way to Wisconsin not knowing the games were being played in Libertyville, Illinois. There is a monetary cost lost because of this mishap.
There have been many other “changes” in the basketball schedule. We have to adjust to your schedule changes, which may cause undue harm to the parents because they have to adjust. Yet, you send or give us paperwork stating we are not responsible and you will “punish” us or our children. This is a two-way street. We need the same commitment from you as you ask of us. We need a commitment suggesting the schedules will not change. Our schedules were so messed up in the beginning of traveling team play that you placed us in a tournament where we had to play each other.
On Monday, May 21, 2007, after practice my wife was given a new practice schedule. In these documents the practice schedule has changed. Also, in these documents you talk about the lack of commitment by the parents. Your documents also make the following statement, “…Also from now on anyone late to practice will be punished….” How could you make a statement like this to parents or children? Why would you use a word like “punishment” to describe a normal consequence? You should never use a descriptive word like “punishment” to illustrate your disappointment in a parent’s lack of…. Especially, when you intend on “punishing” our children.
Should the parents think about “punishing” the Illinois Lady Wolverines because they have slacked on their commitment to us, such as re-scheduling practices and games? You talk about a lack of commitment on the parent’s part, but what about the lack of commitment on the Wolverines part. We, as parents, expect schedules to vary at times. You should expect the same as well.
On May 27, 2006 while playing at Libertyville, my wife talked to Margo about Kristina participating in her practice schedule. Margo stated she had no problem with the practice schedule change if it is okay with Caitlin and you. Allowing Kristina to practice with Margo, allows Kristina to keep her “other” commitment to Lady Fire’s practice schedule of Tuesday and Thursday, which is just as important as her commitment with the Wolverines. Your change in Kristina’s practice schedule is comprises her commitment to Lady Fire. Your initial practice schedule was Monday and Wednesday..
Personally, my wife and I re-arranged our schedules according the first schedule you submitted to us. Now, you submit another practice schedule expecting us to re-arrange our schedules again, but you talk about commitment. Where is your commitment to us?
Kristina has a commitment to the Lady Fire Basketball Club, which my wife and I decided would be Kristina’s second team. We have a financial commitment with Lady Fire also. We informed you of this commitment when we committed ourselves to the initial Wolverine traveling team schedule. Lady Fire understands our commitment to the Wolverines, and that the Wolverines is our primary team.
Now therefore, I would like for you take this letter as being informative and respectful of the Wolverines and yourself. We would like for Kristina to practice with Margo on Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. If Kristina is forced to continue under the coaching of Caitlin for this traveling team experience, I do not see my recourses as of the writing of this letter. I would rather Kristina be coached by you or Margo. Also, I would greatly appreciate, and I know the other parents would appreciate it, if you would be more committed to giving us the correct information about the location of basketball games instead of telling us to look on your website for the information. Some people are not computer savvy. I have discussed these issues with other like-minded parents who know things could be better.
Finally, you informed me on May 27, 2007 no other players on Kristina’s team went to Wisconsin for the games. I found out when we talked to other parents that there were at least two other players on Kristina’s team who went to the Wisconsin location.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
Coach Ron Newquist's Response:
Let me first respond to the practice issue of changing. I stated CLEARLY at the parent meeting that the practice schedule could change after May when we no longer can use Bloom High School. I have no control over what days we are able to use what gyms when it comes to the summer. I cant help that you decided to play two club basketball teams, we expect commitment to the Wolverines. If Kristina will continue to play for the Wolverines Red team then she will have to continue to be at thier practices. We will not and do not change players in md season, quite frankly Margo had no right telling you it would be ok for her to practice with them, she has 12 players of her own to worry about!
I never told you Kristina would be playing for me, I coach the Varsity and freshmen team. You may have wanted me to coach her but I never told you nor did I give you any indication I would be her coach. If this was such an issue why not nip it in the bud from the start? Why now? We are more than half way done with the season, changes cant be done now. You talk about playing time..I watched almost the whole game you are talking about, I saw plenty of playing time and no one doing anything with it. Thats what I observed. I have a question for you. Has Kristina told you about the time I stopped their practice and yelled at them because Kristina was laying on the ground flat on her belly while Coach Caitlin was teaching then an offense? I sat and watched her not get off that floor for 5 minutes before I said something, I then yelled at Caitlin for not saying anything to her. Now I'm not saying that Kristina is the only one that has goofed off but she has done it more than once, you must put into what you want out of it. Kristina has alot to learn and this is a developmental team with a developmental coach, I decided to keep these girls so they can learn and develope, but they have to work hard and push themselves to get better.
As far as the game/tournament schedule goes..things happen that I have no control over. Tournament directors change things all the time, I cant control that, it happens to everyone not just you. I told everyone in the beginning to aways look at the schedules online because they can change, if you looked on your schedule for this weekend off of the hoops for the game website as I instructed you would have seen at the top and next to the times that the tournament was changed to Libertyville. I am sorry for your inconvience but you must look at your schedule each time because once again I have no control over the changes. We have only had to send out one revised schedule this year from the original one that was handed out at the parents meeting. Throught the year sometimes things happen, there is no perfect world no matter where you play. You talked to me about being unhappy with the angels and how you wanted structure for your daughter, I told you you would get it here. If you are unhappy with the situation I cant help that but like I said before Kristina like many girls on that team have to be willing to listen, work harder in practice and be willing to get better. I have watched the team practice and play, I have also observed Caitlin coach. I am working with both to get things better. I think your harsh critisism of caitlin is unwarrented, I have watched and i see her rewarding players with good attitudes and working hard in practice with playing time, like i said i watched the whole game and I saw alot of playing time for everyone.
As far as the punishment thing goes, being on time to practice is not hard, making all of the practices two days a week is not hard. Some people have taken advantage of this that is why I put out that letter to make sure people realize that we are serious. I have never had this problem in the 7 years we have had the girls club and I will not let it start now. If this does not pertain to you then so be it, dont worry about the letter.
As far as the starters for the game those 5 they were the only ones to show up on time, 30 minutes before game time. Now I know you went to Wisconsin, but all players are supposed to be to the game 30 minutes before the game time, libertyville is 20 minutes from Pleasent Plaines. Also I stated at the beginning that no other club would interfere with Wolverines. Saturday You guys chose to have her play for the Lady fire at AAU state instead of us , now tell me how more playing time is deserved? In closing I understand your concerns but this is a two way street, Kristina should have received no playing time at all after skipping our games to play for Lady Fire, Coach Caitlin has a big heart and she decided to play her against my rules, we will be discussing that later. Finally I cannot allow Kristina to miss all of her practices with the red team and then expect to play, practicing with another team will mean nothing for her to help her own team. You guys have a decision to make concerning that issue. I cant help the schedule change, with high school leagues and changing gym times and locations and coaches schedules it could not be helped. I dont know what else to tell you about it, its unfortunate but that is what could happen when you play two clubs, its almost impossible to make it work. Feel free to call me to discuss this further.
I want to close by saying I think Kristina is a good kid with some potential. If she learns to work hard and not get caught up with some other girls goofing off or not listening I think she will do fine, but she has to give the effort. When she does she is s different player but she still has much to learn as they all do.
Thank you.
Ron Newquist708-259-8067
Fred's Reply:
Ron:
I disagree with your assessment of the situation. You did not tell the parents their children would be on a developmental team. I am not interested in paying money for you to develop a coach. Telling me Kristina has to stay with this "developing coach" is absurd. We did not pay $600.00 plus for this kind of situation. We paid this money expecting to play with a regular team.
You watched a different game than I did. Kristina was there for the 2nd game. It happened as I stated in my letter. Caitlin played her favorites. Kristina arrives at her scheduled practice on time. All of the girls play around and may be guilty of not listening at times. The girls are 12 years of age. Nevertheless, this does not excuse Caitlin's ability to coach. Caitlin is just a senior in high school.
Therefore, to gain more exposure and to ensure future players and parents know how you operate I will post both my letter to you, your response to me, and my reply to you on my website at http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
Your desire to believe you can talk and communicate disparagingly to people is ludicrous. I did not pay to develop a coach. I wanted to develop my child's basketball skills with an experienced coach.
Yes, I know you informed me you would not be coaching her. But I had no idea you would be putting my child on a "developmental team." This absurd. I did not pay $600.00 plus to develop your coach. We deserve a refund.
You misrepresented your position and your coach. You never told us you were developing Caitlin as a coach, and that our children would be placed on a developmental team. You told us Caitlin was an established coach. Caitlin is a senior in high school. We did not pay this kind of money for this kind of experience.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred
