The football season officially kicks off at Nathan Hale High School in West Allis, Wis., today, but with only half of its coaching staff.
According to TMJ4, six of the school’s 11 football coaches, including the head coach, resigned earlier this week after the school placed several coaches on administrative duty and conducted an internal investigation, which began on Aug. 6. The school allegedly did not explain to the coaches why they were being investigated.
In a letter shared by USA Today, principal Matthew Lesar said to parents, “We want to inform you that, effective immediately, several members of our football coaching staff have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with District policy while the District conducts a confidential personnel investigation. Administrative leave is a standard District procedure utilized during certain investigations and should not be interpreted as a finding of wrongdoing or an indication of guilt."
Sources close to the investigation suspect it has something to do with a group message thread between members of the coaching staff. School officials confirmed that student-athletes were never at risk, and the investigation does not involve student-athlete safety or misconduct.
Without its head coach or five other assistant coaches, the Huskies appointed the former defensive coordinator as the interim head coach.
“As we move forward, our focus is on providing stability and continuity for our student-athletes and ensuring they have the support they need for the rest of the season. We are pleased to share that our current defensive coordinator, Coach Cody Schumitsch, will serve as the interim head coach as we begin the search for a permanent head coach," Lesar said.
As the Huskies prepare for a new season with a drastically different coaching staff, one parent told TMJ4 News, “I think that that's where the shock lies because these are guys who are just some of the nicest people that you'll ever come across — they're true, genuine people. They are good coaches.”
