• Mike Forman •
• Originally published January 16, 2009 at midnight, updated January 16, 2009 at midnight

Two Tidehaven High School coaches have been suspended from coaching any sport through the 2009-10 school year.

The suspension was part of the penalty received by boys head basketball coach Clarence Jones and assistant basketball coach Rush Claxton from the University Interscholastic League's State Executive Committee, which met Thursday in Austin.

Jones and Claxton also were given a public reprimand and a three-year probation for violating the UIL's holiday practice restrictions.

"This is such a devastating blow to everybody involved," said Tidehaven Superintendent Suzanne Wesson, who attended the meeting along with Tidehaven athletic director Shawn Woods. "The district, the student-athletes and the coaches."

The state executive committee agreed with the District 29-2A Executive Committee's findings that the coaches violated the five-day rule, which prohibits teams from practicing during five consecutive days over the Christmas break.

Wesson said the Tidehaven school district conducted an investigation of possible violations in the basketball program after she was contacted by the UIL, which received an anonymous e-mail alleging a number of violations.

Wesson said the district's investigation confirmed one of the allegations, that the coaches held a practice on Dec. 26, which falls during the five-day holiday period.

Wesson forwarded her findings to the district executive committee, which is chaired by Boling Superintendent Charles Butcher.

Butcher said the Tidehaven basketball program had previously come before the district executive committee for playing an ineligible player.

The district executive committee forwarded its findings, which stated that Claxton had not been forthcoming with the committee, to the state executive committee, recommending a public reprimand and/or a suspension.

Kim Rogers, director of public information for the UIL, said the state executive committee took the coaches' demeanor into account and its ruling emphasized the importance of following the rules.

"The committee wanted to make sure they got the message," Rogers said. "They need to understand the severity of breaking the rules like that and also so they don't do it again."

Jones came to Tidehaven at the beginning of the school year from the Aldine school district. Claxton has been at Tidehaven since the 2007-08 school year after coaching at Bay City.

Wesson said Jones and Claxton were still employed by the school district at this time.

"No change in employment has occurred so far," Wesson said. "There are consequences from the district prior to the district executive committee. We have ethical professional standards. The coaches are responsible for knowing the rule."

The state executive committee issued no penalties to the Tidehaven school district or its athletic program.

Woods said he was in the process of determining who would coach the boys basketball team for Friday night's District 29-2A opener at Hitchcock.

"I'm going to have to reorganize my staff," Woods said. "I'm in that thinking mode right now."

Wesson said she regretted the negative publicity the violation has brought to the district.

"I always keep my school board informed," Wesson said. "I'll be available to anyone who wants to talk about it. It's very hurtful when role models don't conduct themselves as role models should."

• Print
• •
• Share
  • Share this item

    Send this to a friend

    Share on FaceBook

  • Grab the link

    Copy and paste the link:

  • Blog about it

    Blog about this page.

  • Close
• •
• 5 Comments
• •
• Favorite
• •
• Report error
  • Thank you for your submission.
    Error report or correction

    Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  

    
  • Close
• •