It's disappointing when parents end up calling the shots in high school sports. I wouldn't want to be a part of it. As a side note, there is a private all boys high school in my area that has been a power in virtually all sports for many years. They are able to dress about 80 players for football games. Just about all of them are seniors and juniors. It is rare for a sophomore to dress for a varsity game let alone play. I don't remember a freshman on the varsity roster. They have fallen off in basketball a bit over the last few years, but that is about it.

I've been a volunteer coach for the local junior football program for 8th graders for many years. The local high school has lost quite a few of the better players to the private school I mentioned above. I wish all of the boys well, but It's sometimes frustrating to watch as the local school and the private school are in the same conference.

I'm not aware of parental involvement in the private school here such as you have mentioned in Colorado, but it wouldn't surprise me if there was.