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StumbleuponTrotwood flagged Douglass with prior reprimands
Football coach's personnel file shows incidents as far back as 2005; he must complete district program.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Trotwood-Madison High School football coach Maurice Douglass had been reprimanded by his bosses before any OHSAA investigation, according to documents obtained from his personnel file.
The issues include approaching a teacher about changing a grade for a student-athlete, letting non-registered students practice with the team and warnings of recruitment practices, plus minor issues like being tardy and improper use of sick leave.
In the wake of an Ohio High School Athletic Association investigation, Douglass was suspended for three weeks — Weeks 3-5 of the season to allow Douglass to accompany the team to a Week 2 game in Texas — and offensive coordinator Jeremy Beckham was dismissed.
When asked Monday, July 21, about the letters of reprimand, Trotwood Superintendent Lowell Draffen said, "I really don't have any comment about that."
The district is designing a 12-step program for Douglass to complete in 24 months, coinciding with Trotwood-Madison's two-year probation period with the OHSAA.
The investigation also resulted in former football and track standout Michael Shaw being declared ineligible this spring and two senior athletes not being able to compete this coming school year.
"Coach Douglass is working with the athletic director, who will monitor coach Douglass' efforts," School Board President Craig L. Ross Sr. said after a July 17 school board meeting.
Rexann Wagner, the district's assistant superintendent, said school officials outlined the action plan for Douglass to the OHSAA.
"That 12-step program is being written now," she said Monday. She estimated the program would be in place by next week.
Douglass' reprimands date to at least 2005 — well before the OHSAA case.
Beckham, a volunteer assistant the past two seasons, was reprimanded June 25 by Draffen for putting a rap song "degrading to women" on a Trotwood-Madison football Web site.
Beckham, let go in connection with the OHSAA investigation into Trotwood's residency and recruitment issues, worked in 2007-08 as a 7-hour per day educational aide for $12.74 per hour at Westbrook Elementary School.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951 or mgokavi@DaytonDailyNews.com. Staff writer Doug Page contributed to this report.
Douglass' reprimands
In a Jan. 30, 2007 letter, Trotwood Principal Gerald Cox told Douglass "in order to preserve the integrity of our athletic programs, we must make certain that we are not making outreach efforts that might be misconstrued as improper recruitment of student athletes."
Cox also wrote, "Make sure you do not jeopardize your position or reputation as you do your work."
A letter dated Sept. 12, 2005, was labeled as a reprimand for "Failure to Perform Duties Properly" in two areas.
In two instances, Athletic Director Jim Ladd cited Douglass for players practicing with the football team who were not registered as students at Trotwood.
Ladd also wrote that on July 10, 2005, Douglass approached a teacher about the possibility of a grade change for a football player. Douglass wrote that conversation included Douglass' comments that the player was missing out on scholarship opportunities because of the grade he received in that class.
Ladd wrote that Douglass' actions violated the "Coaches Code of Ethics."
