Knoxville, TN (Story courtesy of WVLT) – West High School Head Football Coach Lamar Brown will not return to the school next year, Knox County Schools Superintendent Jon Rysewyk announced Tuesday.
He will no longer coach in Knox County and has been given teaching duties at another school. Rysewyk did not say which school.
Rysewyk said the decision was prompted by an internal investigation into the school’s football staff, prompted in turn by allegations against two former assistant coaches.
Brown is not facing any criminal charges, but did oversee Chad Brooks and Richard Shaver, two former assistant coaches facing child sex crimes charges.He will no longer coach in Knox County and has been given teaching duties at another school. Rysewyk did not say which school.
Brooks was charged with multiple counts of aggravated statutory rape and statutory rape by an authority figure, and Richard Scott Shaver was charged with four counts of sexual battery by an authority figure and two counts of attempted sexual battery by an authority figure.
Rysewyk said the investigation, led by the school district’s business and talent division, prompted concerns about the football program’s leadership. A letter provided to WVLT News said the investigation found a “significant lack of oversight of the West High School football program.”
“It was important for me and our whole team to look at the whole piece. Our investigation went all the way to the top, principals and athletics directors,” Rysewyk said, also touching on his time holding assistant coaching positions earlier in his career. “I was taught during that time that everything speaks to that coach and that program.”
Brown is not the only one facing allegations of mishandling. The letter also said “our investigation further determined that additional staff members at West High School violated KCS police and procedure, such as failure to report information to law enforcement and the Department of Children’s Services.”
The head coach’s reassignment isn’t the only action KCS took, Rysewyk said. In all, the school system outlined the following actions:
- Written reprimand and non-renewal of teacher/assistant football coach
- Resignation of non-faculty assistant football coach
- Termination of educational assistant
- Relieved head coach of coaching duties and reassigned teaching duties
- Written reprimand and reassignment of teacher
Beyond the employment changes, Rysewyk said Knox County Schools had increased oversight in the hiring process for all West coaching positions and increased the training requirements at the school for the next two years. Rysewyk also said the school system had increased oversight into policy compliance and reviewed the athletics handbook.
“My message to parents is West is an incredible high school,” Rysewyk said. “It’s highly decorated and rewarded. I’ll also say I am not blind. This is a big deal.”
After Rysewyk’s announcement, Brown’s attorney, Jeff Hagood, released the following statement:
I am deeply, deeply disappointed in the actions taken by Knox County Schools (KCS) to reassign Coach Brown from West High School to another school. Coach Brown is a beloved figure in the West community, and he has poured his heart and soul into the players, school, and that community. The net effect of KCS’s decision will only hurt the players, students, parents, and the entire West community.
Most troubling to me is that Lamar was reassigned for the apparent sins of others. Lamar Brown has absolutely done nothing wrong. KCS’s stated reasons for reassignment are inaccurate…and that’s very troubling to me.
Lamar Brown will stand tall, despite his deep disappointment, as men of high character and integrity always do. Jeff Hagood, Attorney for Lamar Brown
In 2022, Brown was named Tennessee Titans Coach of the Year after leading the school to a Class 5A state championship with an undefeated season. He joined West as head football coach in 2016.
