Community Comes Out In Support Of Coach

February 23, 2011 /

SWVaToday.com

A sea of Battle green flooded the School Board meeting room Monday night.

A big number of the parents and students gathered came to support suspended teacher and coach Ryan Witten. Witten was suspended from his jobs as coach of the John S. Battle High School football team and as a teacher in October, when police began investigating accusations that he had inappropriate contact with a young student at the school.

Freddy Lewis, a parent and Battle graduate, said the coach deserves to have his team back and his livelihood restored. Lewis said that Witten had spent four months on paid suspension and then, after the news came out that the commonwealth’s attorney’s office wasn’t pursuing the charges, received a letter notifying him that he would be suspended without pay. Lewis said the football players who were forced to finish the season without the help of a man many credited with turning around an ailing program deserve too have their coach back. At the very least, he requested that Witten’s pay be reinstated for the rest of his suspension.

Players also pleaded with the board to bring back Witten. Ryan Hall, a junior, said Witten and changed the whole community and “made us all into good young men.” Calling the coach the heart and soul of the football team, Hall said Witten had taught them right from wrong and was there if a student needed someone to talk to.

Senior Darby Amos echoed the sentiments, saying the coach had made a big difference in his life. He said Witten had taught him to be more respectful and more mature.

School Board members were scheduled to get an update on a suspended employee during their closed session meeting; however, there was no talk about Witten during open session.


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