Players Rally For Coach Accused Of Intimidating Student With Stick

November 16, 2010 /
Knoxville News Sentinel (Tenn.)

Suspended Central High School football coach Joel Helton has been accused of intimidating a student with a stick as well as hitting other students with it, according to a letter in his personnel file.

Helton, who’s been the coach at Central since 1984, is alleged to have “recently threatened to hit one of your students with a stick during class and you have actually hit students with a stick during athletic workouts,” according to a letter in his personnel file. The document was written Nov. 5 by Pat Mashburn, a supervisor in the school system’s human resources department.

Meanwhile, organizers of a rally Monday on behalf of Helton said they plan to host more rallies to continue supporting a man they said has shown extraordinary care for students and the community.

“This isn’t about football,” said Carter Howard, 20, a 2008 Central graduate. “It’s about a teacher and his legacy and reputation.”

Helton, who teaches U.S. government and advanced conditioning/weight training, was placed on administrative leave with pay effective Nov. 8, district spokeswoman Melissa Copelan said. The investigation is ongoing, she said.

The investigation “will conclude when we have all the facts put together,” Copelan said.

About 100 students, alumni and parents gathered near Central before classes began. They carried signs and chanted for Helton’s return.

Organizers collected signatures, which they plan to send to central office administrators to convince them to reinstate Helton.

The allegations are “totally out of character,” said Michael Hurst, 24, a 2006 graduate and football player.

“I think he would be very proud that former players and students did their best to support him through this tough time,” Hurst said.

Hurst, who created a “Help Bring Back Coach Joel Helton” Facebook page, said Helton connected with students, forming relationships with them beyond football.

“My senior year, I was having some home life troubles and he prayed for my family,” he said. “He’s very genuine.”

He told stories of how Helton helped other students; if they were hungry, he fed them; if they struggled in school, he got them assistance; if they didn’t have a home, he would sometimes take them to his until they found a permanent solution.

Howard, who also played football for Helton, said he lost his grandfather when he was in the eighth-grade. When he came to Central as a freshman, “Joel (Helton) stepped in that role. He was somebody I could talk to.”

By 4 p.m. Monday, the Facebook page for Helton had 404 members.

Helton has a career record of 194-105 at Central. The Bobcats were 3-7 this season and missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive time.

In 1999, Helton guided the Bobcats to the Class 4A state runner-up. Former University of Tennessee star Todd Helton of the Colorado Rockies is the nephew of Joel Helton.


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