GREAT BARRINGTON — Longtime Monument Mountain boys basketball head coach Randy Koldys is asking for another chance after accidentally uploading a recording of the coaches criticizing players.

“I had a bad 20 minutes, and I feel like I’ve had a good 45 years,” Koldys said.

After audio from a postgame discussion in which Koldys, assistant coach Rick Cantelli and JV coach Eric Cardinal criticized players was accidentally uploaded to the coaching app Hudl in February, the three coaches were replaced by girls basketball coach and math teacher Joe Valerio.

Koldys said he was the only coach who resigned and that his assistants were not asked to step down but were told they could no longer coach. About two weeks after submitting his resignation, Koldys said he rescinded it and reapplied for the position for next year.

The Eagle reviewed the 32-minute recording and emails involving Principal Christopher Barnes, Director of Athletics and Co-Curricular Programs Karl Zigmand and Superintendent Peter Dillon, providing further insight into how events unfolded.

After a one-point overtime loss to South Hadley in the Western Massachusetts quarterfinal on Feb. 12, coaches spent several minutes in the locker room praising the team’s effort and urging players to be proud.

The three coaches then moved to the coach’s office, out of earshot of the players, where they reviewed the game. That conversation included criticism of specific players and some expletives.

Sometime between the game and a Feb. 14 practice, Koldys uploaded the game footage to Hudl as usual. What the coaches didn’t realize was that the camera had continued recording after the game, capturing their entire conversation.

At least three players heard the recording before it was taken down.

After the Feb. 14 practice, Zigmand emailed parents to explain the situation and said an investigation had been opened. He also sent Barnes the recording that night.

The next morning, Barnes sent a follow-up email saying he was allowing practice with the coaches that day. He said he would attend part of the practice to talk to players, while Zigmand would be present for the entire practice. Players who did not want to go would be excused.

During practice, Barnes spoke with six players who wanted to talk, along with their parents, and others who had reached out.

Barnes, who has a son on the team, led the investigation with Dillon, who was out of town. He sent Dillon the recording the morning of Feb. 15 and asked him to watch it and then talk about it with him.

“He will receive all of the information, and he and I will partner on any decision-making,” Barnes wrote in an email to a parent.

That afternoon after practice, Barnes met with the coaching staff. They were asked about the video and who said what, but were not given the chance to plead their case, Koldys said.

In response to a parent email that said “the tape is bad” and that he feels bad for the kids and coach, on the morning of Feb. 15, Zigmand responded that the incident is being taken “very seriously” and he expects a decision to be made soon.

With the subject line “thank you for the opportunity,” Cardinal sent an email to Zigmand and Koldys the night of Feb. 15 saying he was “eternally thankful” for his six years with the team and for working with Koldys.

“I apologize again for the unfortunate mishaps that have transpired over the past few days, it was always with the greater intent of inspiring a unique group of individuals on and off the court,” Cardinal said. “Coach K thank you for being a great FRIEND and mentor to me, what I’ve learned from you as a coach these past five seasons can never be duplicated. You will always be a HALL OF FAME coach and mentor to me and it was an honor to be on your staff.”

Around 20 minutes later, Barnes emailed parents announcing that Koldys, Cantelli and Cardinal had stepped down.

“The video and audio that came out unintentionally included comments and language which do not represent what we want for our student athletes,” Barnes said. “As a result, there has been a great impact on the team which creates a significant challenge moving forward with the same coaches. The coaches understand this and have stepped down from their positions.”

In a Feb. 16 email, Zigmand responded to a parent who said they were saddened that the coaches did not finish the season. He wrote, “Yes, very sad, but I fully support the decision made by the administration. I hope the boys can find some comfort in this and get back to playing basketball.”

Koldys apologized and took responsibility for uploading the file and using inappropriate language in an interview with The Eagle. He said his comments were basketball-related and not intended as personal attacks on any player or their character.

“I really love coaching basketball at Monument Mountain, and I'm feeling pretty bad about the things that did happen,” he said. “My accountability is 100 percent behind uploading it, and using profanity is nobody's fault but my own. If I upset any of my players, that's the last thing I wanted to do.”

The Eagle has received more than 25 letters and messages in support of Koldys from former players, parents and community members. Many describe him as a dedicated mentor and role model who has spent decades teaching life skills such as accountability, perseverance and character through basketball.

Those in favor of reinstating Koldys plan to attend the April 16 school committee meeting to speak during public comment, although the committee does not have authority over hiring coaches.

While acknowledging the incident involved private comments, supporters say it was accidental and unrepresentative of his character and are calling for his reinstatement.

Koldys said the team is a family to him and the outpouring of support from the community has meant the “world” to him and he is “overwhelmed with love.”

“If there was ever a chance for me to get the job back,” he said, “I would prove to everybody that it was a good decision.”