High School Soccer Coach Fired After Pregame ‘Incident’ in Poughkeepsie

A pregame incident involving two athletes has resulted in the dismissal of the boys' soccer coach at a high school in Poughkeepsie, NY.

The boys' soccer coach at Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie has been fired after a pregame incident that took place before the team's home game on September 19th, 2025, against Mount Academy.

Soccer Coach Fired in Poughkeepsie, NY

According to Athletic Business, Our Lady of Lourdes High School has dismissed head boys soccer coach Eileen Cancro after her handling of an altercation that took place between two Lourdes teammates during warmups.

The firing, which was first reported by the USA Today Network, stemmed from the exchange of offensive language and physical contact that allegedly took place between the coach and two players before the team's game on September 19th.

It's unclear what was said, but multiple witnesses at the game said the language heard could be considered "racist," according to the report. Our Lady of Lourdes, a catholic high school in Poughkeepsie, has rules against the use of any obscene language or physical violence, as well as a strict anti-racism policy.

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Following the incident, Coach Cancro, who joined the Lourdes coaching staff in 2022, was absent from the sidelines of the team's next game, leading many to wonder if she would be back or not.

Parents Want Coach Back

Following the next game against Spackenkill, parents sent the school's administration a letter asking to have the coach reinstated. The school responded with an email that stated,

"After thoughtful and ongoing discussions, careful consideration of all facts presented and consultation with legal counsel from the Archdiocese of New York, we have made the decision to cut ties with coach Cancro."

 

The school explained that the decision was "not made lightly" and was made after a review of all available information, with the best interests of the school's student-athletes and the integrity of the school's program.

The email concluded saying, "Despite efforts on both sides, we couldn’t establish a shared vision moving forward. This matter has been settled and is not up to further discussion." It was signed by five members of the school's administration.