Madlax Dad: it seems clear that this family took "free" or "discounted" lacrosse from the coach and the program. And it also appears the boy got into a very good school with a very good lacrosse program, at least in part (and perhaps in full) due to the boy's association with the program and the coach's efforts on his behalf. His involvement in the program certainly did not hurt.

I for one agree with the coach when he complained the family was ungrateful. People quit all the time, often for good reasons. And it seems the parents recognized that their son wasn't the next Rabil, which is fair. But what makes them ungrateful is they severed ties in an email to the coach, and did not have the courtesy to speak with him in person. That might have been a scary conversation to have, but sometimes you need to have the courage to face up to that. Moreover, they apparently refused to call the coach after being asked several times to talk. They really did owe the coach and the program more. Had they done so, the results might have been completely different.

And because they controlled the process via email, and chose to ignore requests to talk in person, the parents (inadvertently or otherwise) were setting up someone they likely knew had trouble controlling his emotions. Add to this the fact that only select emails were published from the chain ... we haven't seen the emails from the parents where they are fueling the fire by telling the coach to "Re: Lax" etc. So, they are not innocent in this by a long shot.

That said, an adult simply can't go after a minor like that. Calling people ungrateful might be warranted and true, but the threats cross the line. A coach at any level has to exercise more control over his emotions. While this player and his parents owed him a phone call, the coach owed you guys, your boys, and the organization more restraint and common sense.

Very sorry this played out as it did.