Two Westlake High School junior varsity baseball coaches have been fired, and, contrary to an e-mail sent by the coaches to parents, it had nothing to do with "death threats," school officials said Friday.

Athletic coordinator Jim Benkert said he has been talking to concerned parents who received an e-mail Wednesday from former head JV baseball coach Robert Gerig and his son, former JV assistant coach Joey Gerig.

In the e-mail, which was sent to about 80 parents of children in the school's baseball program, the Gerigs said Benkert "approached us both to inform us that there were death threats against us and players on the JV team and they wanted to take precautions for our own safety until they could sort it out with the police."

According to the e-mail, Benkert told both coaches they were only temporarily relieved from their positions. The team has one more game before the season ends.

"(Benkert) went on to say we were not terminated, and that this decision had nothing to do with our coaching abilities, nor was it due to any complaints," the e-mail said.

Benkert, however, said Friday that the father and son were indeed terminated and immediately replaced by varsity assistant coach Ken Carroll, and that it had nothing to do with death threats or the pair's safety.

Conejo Valley Unified School District officials said there were never any death threats against the Gerigs, and they plan to e-mail parents to clarify the situation.

"There was some horse-playing from some kids and something was said in a threatening nature, but that was dealt with, and no kids were suspended," Benkert said. "It's a closed matter and everything is fine."

Benkert would not comment on why the father and son were fired, saying it's a personnel matter.

The Gerigs started as coaches in March. Robert Gerig's position was voluntary, while Joey Gerig was a paid district employee. Robert Gerig, 46, has been coaching youth sports in the Conejo Valley for more than 20 years, according to the school's Web site.

Joey Gerig, 21, said Friday that his father sent the e-mail to parents to inform them of the coaching shift.

"(Benkert) made it seem like we were threatened by one of the students," he said.

Gerig said he was sad and disappointed at the school's decision to fire him and his father. "I really loved to coach," he said. "I was a friend to all of them."