Caption: Don Gorence Pershing High SchoolPershing High Grid Coach FiredBY PAUL WALSHFree Press Special WriterDetroit Pershing head football coach Don Gorence has been fired, the Free Press learned Friday.According to Gorence, 45, who took over the Doughboys in 1965, he was relieved of his duties as head football coach Nov. 11 by principal George Q. Williams for a "lack of zest and great desire."These were the comments Williams stated in a memo to the fired coach, according to Gorence.He remains on the teaching staff and still holds the baseball coaching job."He told me in his office I was fired, but I wanted it on paper," Gorence said, explaining the memo.Williams could not be reached for comment.There was no official statement made by Pershing for the firing and according to Gorence, "the word was out that I had retired."Apparently, word of his firing did not reach the Public School League's office."That's news to me," said Roy Allen, assistant director of Health and Physical Education.Similar responses were given by other PSL officials. Some of Gorence's gridiron stars who have made their way to the NFL are Paul Seal of San Francisco and Glen Doughty of Baltimore.Pershing finished 2-5 this year, but the squad had only 26 players and was plagued by a lack of equipment.
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