Dec 5, 2008 9:40 pm US/Central
2 Investigators: Coaches Fired Over Paddling
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Chicago schools chief Arne Duncan on Friday Dec. 5, 2008 discussed disciplinary action against coaches who are believed to have used corporal punishment on students.
CBS
There was a major shake-up at five Chicago public schools on Friday. Some coaches were fired for allegedly using corporal punishment on student athletes.
Investigator Dave Savini first broke this story. It started with one player on one team being hit. Now, so many players have come forward that nine coaches could lose their jobs.
Marshall High School, the reigning state champs, had their head coach fired tonight. Courtney Hargrays was terminated for allegedly breaking a state law that bans corporal punishment.
Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan will only confirm the names of three coaches to resign or be fired. He said a school's athletic success will not protect coaches who harm students.
"It doesn't matter if it's a state championship or a team with 0-30 last year," Duncan said.
In addition to the firing of Hargrays, there is also Morgan Park's basketball coach Mandel Oliver. Fred McClinton, a volleyball coach at Simeon who was caught on security tape hitting players, resigned in June.
"We need to instill discipline, but not fear, and there's a big difference there," Duncan said.
CBS 2 also has learned head Simeon basketball coach Robert Smith is under investigation. Smith coached the Bulls' Derrick Rose and won two state championships prior to Marshall.
Others being investigated include Harlan High School football and basketball coaches.
A security tape exposed in September by CBS2 led to a citywide investigation. Former Simeon volleyball captain Bruce Zayas says he and others were struck by McClinton with a five-foot paddle.
"I just remember the pain," Zayas said.
Lamont Bryant is a former Marshall High School head basketball coach who says he was fired and replaced by Hargrays last year after he complained about numerous abuses, including athletes being hit.
Bryant, now coaching at South Shore High School, said before he was fired from Marshall he ended up taking action against another coach for slapping a student in the face.
Akeem Nathanial transferred to South Shore from Marshall after he and other players were paddled.
"I think you have to bring these things to the light of day, and if you keep them covered up that just perpetuates this kind of behavior," Duncan, the schools chief, said.
CBS2 uncovered a Chicago Public School investigator's notes detailing numerous athletes who reported they were paddled at Marshall more than a year ago. Duncan couldn't explain the delay, but said he took action once he learned of it.
CBS 2 was only able to reach one coach, Simeon's Fred McClinton, and he had no comment.
Now there are more allegations surfacing at Marshall concerning a sophomore coach and allegations that the principal may have destroyed or falsified documents related to the firing of Coach Bryant.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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