16-year-old marries coach, family speaks out

You have to be kidding me!!!! They say that nothing could have been done to stop her?? The mother is upset that no one could help her daughter?? HELLO!!!! She signed the papers to allow her daughter to marry this sick-o!! I feel bad for the child that her parents didn't love her enough to stop this from happening, that they didn't guide her in the right direction. By signing the papers allowing her to marry they gave up on her. They are awful parents.

Why did'nt the parents hire a private investigator so they could get pictures of their daughter with this man? I know if they were friends since she was 14 they probably had sex already or at least kissed. It seems like there was some kind of way to stop this. They could have had her room bugged or his car or office. SOMETHING!! Maybe I watch too much television, but I would've tried something.

I would have given anything to be able to tell this girl to "RUN FOR YOUR LIFE" from getting married so young. It's sad that she married someone old enough to be her father but what is worse is that at the tender age of 16 she is missing out on so much in life. She doesn't even realize this. When I was 16, I knew more than my parents too!

Unfortunately parents do give into their children in ways like none before. It's easier on the parent to please the child than fight for what's right. It seems the parents tried to get the Board to intervene..and that's the puzzle. Now the parents are telling their story for what purpose? Phone records apparently were not enough evidence but boy howdy - this little problem (although too late since they are married)is getting the board and media attention now.

I find it hard to believe the parents allowed pictures of Coach and their daughter together in the home - but if they did - then that is yet another example of "giving in".

Our society is also in moral decline but what's new? I'll be 50 this year and know that my dad would have never condoned something of this nature. I'm glad I had a strict father because he was actually protecting me and teaching me. Too bad the daughter didn't want to listen to her parents. That's the SADDEST part of all.

When she gets broken hearted, who do you think she'll turn to? The parents.

I am wondering "Why" the big media coverage after they have already given the parental consent?

Now this story is on television and pictures of this (minor) youth everywhere. The parents, Mr. and Mrs. Controversy NOW have center-stage and their 15 minutes of fame. Seems Coach's reputation preceeds him, so he gets two sets of 15 minutes of fame.

Is this media hype a ploy by the parents to say they are crying victim and the school wouldn't intervene? When the Board didn't do something I would have stopped the coach in his own tracks - I would have taken matters into my own hands by removing my daughter from the school. There are plenty of home schools, private schools and with this kind of problem - she could have gotton permission to attend another local school.

Unless it's to keep it from happening again - I don't understand how the family could "expose" this story on media like this unless they are trying to get a movie deal out of it, a huge settlement for this girls life being detoured....or are they actually trying to save the next young girl that is recruited to the track team. Course, these girls in Brunswick are SAFE now that the Coach has resigned and married.

Sorry parents - I realize you were worried you would be making your daughter your enemy by stopping this love affair but I don't blame the school system or the law for this happening. It starts at home. I surely wish you would have taken her from this school if you knew this was happening underneath your noses.

Good luck to your family and I hope this story helps other youth and their parents to not make this same mistake.

You know what the main problem here? The only thing I would blame is Wendy's Parents, why do you give up your child?? its your BLOOD, fight for it for your life, not just 2 YEARS, now look what you've done, you put her life in crisis, who knows whats going to happen to this poor child's future, she would not be able to live a normal life the rest of her life. "the world was her oyster" this is my prejudice, she doesn't want the STUFF that the world has to offer, Wendy needed TIME for you parents. GIVE HER TIME AND ATTENTION NOT THE WORLD. THE POWER WAS IN YOUR HAND, AND YOU FREAKIN SCREWED IT UP!!!! THIS DECISION SHOW ME THAT YOU DON'T CARE ENOUGH FOR YOUR CHILD'S LIFE..MR.& MRS Hager especially, Mrs. Hagger, why do you dare say that "she give it all up"? WHY!!!!! you give her up to that bastard (i had to say this word) SHAME ON YOU...

wendy,
if you read thi i want you to know i am behind you, but i dont agree with you. i do not nor does anyone but you know the whole situation but whatever it is i am sure your family would help you. i would of helped you. why your parents went from one extreem to another i dont know but please please make sure you have done the right thing. and if you are happy then that is all that matters. but DO NOT let him take advantage of you and your emotions! i am here for you if you need someone.
-snail girl ; )

I HAVE SEVERAL COMMENTS REGARDING THE MARRIAGE OF THE 40YO AND THE 16YO. I TOO "DATED" A COACH AT MY HIGHSCHOOL AT THE RIPE OLD AGE OF FOURTEEN FOR APPROXIAMTELY 1 & 1/2 YEARS. HE HAS TAKEN INDECENT LIBERTIES WITH STUDENTS FOR A PERIOD OF TWENTY PLUS YEARS. HIS REIGN AS THE FAVORITE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING PEDOPHILE COACH FINALLY CAME TO AN END ONLY TWO YEARS AGO WHEN HE PLEAD GUILTY TO TWELVE COUNTS OF INDECENT LIBERTIES WITH A STUDENT DATING BACK TO 1985. HIS TEAHCING LICENSE HAS BEEN TAKEN,HE WAS FIRED, AND IS NOW ON THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY. HIS NAME IS JEFFREY LYNN SAFRIT FOR ANY OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING OUT FOR YOUR CHILDREN. THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS WERE GUILTY OF "PASSING THE TRASH" FROM ONE SCHOOL TO THE NEXT ALLOWING HIM TO CONTINUE SUCH BEHAVIOR. PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, AND EVEN PARENTS WERE GUILTY OF LOOKING THE OTHER WAY JUST TO INSURE A SUCCESSFUL BASEBALL SEASON. I'M SURE BRUNSWICK'S COACH HAS A SIMILAR HISTORY. AS FOR THE SIXTEEN YEAR OLD, SHE IS ON SUCH AN EMOTIONAL HIGH RIGHT NOW THAT SHE ISN'T EVEN PHYSICALLY HEARING WHAT IS BEING SAID TO HER. I HATE THAT HER PARENTS SIGNED FOR HER TO MARRY, BECAUSE IT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT TO PROSECUTE IN THE FUTURE BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE; HOWEVER; PARENTS SHOULD ALWAYS SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN IN SOME WAY (EVEN WHEN THEY DISAGREE) BECAUSE WHEN THIS MARRIAGE GOES SOUR ON HER SHE WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO RETURN TO THEM. I WILL TELL MY STORY EVERY TIME I GET THE CHANCE IN AN EFFORT TO BRING AWARENESS OF SCHOOL PEDOPHILIA. PARENTS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE SIGNS OF THIS TYPE OF ABUSE SO THAT THEY CAN RECOGNIZE IT IN THEIR OWN CHILDREN. WE KNOW ALL ABOUT THE COMMON COLD, THE FLU, AND SUCH CHILDHOOD DISEASES LIKE CHICKENPOX; SO WHY IN GOD'S NAME DON'T WE PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FORM EMOTIONAL ILLNESS?
FINALLY I HAVE A MESSAGE FOR WENDY HAGER.
WENDY, I KNOW THAT YOU FEEL MORE HAPPINESS RIGHT NOW THAN YOU THOUGHT POSSIBLE, AND MY PRAYER IS THAT YOU ALWAYS HAVE THAT JOY; BUT I NOW KNOW AT THE AGE OF 36 THAT ODDS ARE VERY HIGH THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WILL END SOON. I'M SURE YOU JUST ROLLED YOUR EYES, BUT SWEETHEART JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT DOESN'T MEAN IT ISN'T TRUE. I WANT YOU TO HEAR MY WORDS; IF YOU DO COME TO KNOW UNBEARABLE HEARTACHE AT THE HANDS OF THIS TEACHER I WANT YOU TO CONTACT ME. I WILL HELP YOU IN ANYWAY I CAN IF ONLY TO LISTEN WITH AN UNJUDGEMENTAL EAR. MY EMAIL IS MEDICALCMJ@AOL.COM GOD BLESS AND STAY SAFE. CHRISSY

Thank goodness the girl has great parents, instead of the knee-jerk reactionaries that seem to populate these poll results.

Love happens in strange places. Age has little to do with it. The school did an investigation and this man's intentions toward this young woman were honorable.

I wish them all the happiness in the world.

I can't get over the fact they have MULTIPLE pictures of this weirdo with their daughter in the family home. Like they all went on family vacations or something.....

They obviously excepted the situation.