LUMBERTON — Lumberton football coach Mike Setzer was relieved of his coaching duties on Tuesday.
The fourth-year coach for the Pirates told The Robesonian on Wednesday morning that he was, “blindsided by the decision, and I’m appreciative of the opportunity I got at Lumberton High School.”
The school has no comment on the matter at this time and will make a formal announcement on the matter after the Public Schools of Robeson County Board of Education meets on Tuesday.
The news of Setzer’s firing first was made public by Vonta Leach, a former NFL player and supporter of Lumberton athletics, Tuesday on Facebook. Leach hinted at a bad ending to the relationship between the high school and Setzer with the following post on social media.
”Lumberton politics strikes again. A board member, principal and boosters got together to get rid of Mike. They choose money over character. So Lumberton High School fire(s) Mike Setzer after meeting and telling him that he has one more year to turn things around. Mike is a good teacher, coach, father and friend. His record was not what he wanted but he took up time and mentored kids he coached. He is a positive influence on kids shaping boys to become young (men) and productive citizens. In order for Lumberton to be competitive in football, you have to have a program. You have to have leagues for ages 7- middle school. Your pee wee football, middle school and high school has to run the same system. I don’t care what coach they bring in, the problem will still remain.”
Setzer had served as the coach for the Pirates for four seasons, compiling a 17-28 record and a first-round playoff appearance in 2015. This past season, Lumberton finished 2-9, the worst record under Setzer and the program’s worst record since the 2013 season.
Setzer had a previous coaching stop in Robeson County at St. Pauls from 2004 to 2007. In the 2007 and 2008 seasons he was named Robeson County coach of the year. After coching the Bulldogs to three playoff berths in that span, Setzer went to his alma-mater West Caldwell for two years where he went 1-21.
