Texas high school football coach suspended due to alleged sign stealing, team reportedly must forfeit games

A Texas high school football coach has been suspended for the remainder of the 2024 season following allegations of videotaping opposing teams’ signals.

Palestine Westwood head coach Richard Bishop was suspended on Monday following a ruling from the District 9-3A Division I District Executive Committee (DEC), according to a report from Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s Matt Stepp.

Bishop, head coach at Westwood since 2018, is alleged to have videotaped opponents’ signals while scouting. According to the report, the DEC have “laid out severe punishments” for Bishop and Westwood and have also ruled that the program must forfeit all district games in the 2024 season, including games that are yet to be played.

Westwood is 7-0 this season, averaging 58 points per game. The Panthers have eclipsed 60 points on four occasions in 2024. Last time out, they defeated Diboll 41-13 on the road. They are currently the No. 291 team in Texas, per the On3 Massey Ratings.

The Massey Ratings projected Westwood to finish the regular season undefeated, as it was heavily favored in each of its final three scheduled games against Teague, Fairfield and Huntington. Last season, the Panthers finished 9-3 and won their first playoff game since 2007.

According to Stepp, Westwood intends to appeal the DEC’s rulings to the UIL State Executive Committee.

Ahead of the 2024 season, Bishop, who is also Westwood’s Athletic Director, was named one of 40 coaches under the age of 40 by DCTF — a list that highlights some of the top up-and-coming high school football coaches in the state of Texas.

“This is an honor for the kids, the district and everyone who has been involved who has helped build this thing from the ground up,” Bishop told the Palestine Herald about being tabbed to the list. “It is definitely not an award that is mine alone. It is a program award, a tribute to the kids and staff for what they have done. It is a tribute to the administration for what they have done and provided us with the resources. It is a collective award and a Westwood ISD award.”