Carson High School seeks new wrestling coach

Carson High School is looking for a new wrestling coach after Justin Shine resigned Monday afternoon, according to CHS athletic director Blair Roman.

Shine coached the Senators to a perfect 5-0 record last season en route to the Sierra League championship.

“I informed the football players who also wrestle of the decision yesterday,” Roman said Tuesday morning. “It’s unfortunate. He was very popular with the wrestlers. I really respect Justin and the way he approached the sport.

“The biggest compliment I can give him is that he made it fun for the kids.”

Many current and former wrestling parents are upset about what they feel was a “forced resignation.” Several emails to the Appeal supported Shine staying on as coach, and claimed the program was being terminated.

Shine didn’t answer a request for comment.

Tasha Fuson, Carson High principal, said the program isn’t being terminated.

“We will be sending out a statement to our wrestling families later today to hopefully ease their concerns,” she said in an email. “We are definitely not terminating the program. We simply feel that we need to look in a different direction to grow the program to its fullest potential.”

Roman said he has talked at length with former coach Tim McCarthy, who said he would help in an administrative role but didn’t want to return to coaching.

“I already have a list of people I’m looking at,” Roman said. “My goal is to have a new coach by Oct. 1, but I’m not going to promise anything.”

Nick Redwine assisted Shine last year, but it’s not known whether he would be interested in running the program.