Tennessee high school football coach removed after investigation

When allegations of sexual misconduct were made against West High School‘s coaching staff last month, Knox County Schools moved swiftly to launch a full-scale investigation. On Tuesday, the school district made a final decision on Rebels’ head football coach Lamar Brown.

According to a 6 News Knoxville report, Brown has been relieved of his duties as football coach at West and he will be reassigned as a teacher within Knox County for the 2025-2026 school year.

The Knox County Schools investigation stems from allegations of sexual misconduct that was reported back on April 3, per a 6 News Knoxville report.

Knox County superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk addressed the findings of the inquiry, which included research into administration members. What Rysewyk’s investigative team uncovered was what they had deemed as a ‘significant lack of oversight’ of the West football team and pointed directly to Brown’s hiring of football staff members.

“I want to begin by stating that behaviors like these are never. Excuse me, are not and will never be tolerated in Knox County schools,” Rysewyk said via 6 News Knoxville. “Safety is our number one concern for- that’s for all of our students in Knox County. Every day, our families trust us with their most precious treasures, their children, and that’s not something that I take lightly, and the students who have been impacted by these events have remained at the top of our mind through this whole investigation.”

The report went on to state that staff members Brown had hired and managed were accused of criminal activity and reportedly exhibited gross misconduct. Other findings per the aforementioned report included unnamed staff members not following Knox County Schools’ policies, including failing to provide information to the local law enforcement authorities and Department of Children’s Services.

What transpired included not renewing an assistant coach’s coaching/teacher contract and the resignation of a non-faculty assistant. Two former West assistants identified as Chad Antwan Brooks and Richard Scott Shaver, have been brought up on charges of sexual battery as an authority figure and aggravated statutory rape, per the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Brown, who is not facing any criminal charges, punishment was being removed as West’s football coach and will not be coaching this upcoming fall. West has since named Barron Chandler as their next head football coach.

A statement by Brown’s attorney, Jeff Hagood, was released on Tuesday following Knox County Schools’ decision:

‘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 all men of high character and integrity always do.‘

In the final Tennessee 2024 High School Football Composite Rankings, the Rebels finished No. 20 in the state. West’s season ended with a 24-17 loss to Sevier County in the TSSAA Class 5A playoffs.