Batpuff
01-22-2007, 11:00 AM
LLOYD — An investigation into Greenup County boys basketball coach Jim Hicks conducted by Corbin attorney Timothy Crawford centers on whether multiple basketball players were recruited illegally, The Independent has learned.
In documents obtained by The Independent dated Dec. 21, 2006, that inform Hicks of his original 10-day suspension, Greenup County Schools Superintendent John F. Younce outlines charges against Hicks that came as a result of Crawford’s investigation.
Hicks, who verified the documents are authentic, denied the charges.
The coach’s involvement with several players was reviewed. The players listed in the charges are former Maryland high school player Saihou Jassey, former Greenup County players Zach Gillum and Cody Gillum, current Russell player Austin Robinson, current Ashland player Matt Thomas, current South Webster (Ohio) player Josh Campbell and an unidentified student from Indianapolis.
“After conducting a lengthy investigation, I am charging you with insubordination, conducting (sic) unbecoming a teacher and neglect of duty pursuant to KRS 161.790,” Younce wrote.
The report also indicates Hicks attempted to fire assistant basketball coach Jason Smith, but Younce said Hicks did not have the legal authority to do so.
“You attempted to usurp my authority as Superintendent on December 20, 2006, and attempted to terminate the services of Jason Smith, Assistant Boys’ Basketball Coach,” Younce wrote. “Under Kentucky law, only the superintendent has the authority (to) make personnel decisions, including the decision to terminate school staff.”
Whether Hicks attempted to fire Smith because of his participation in the internal investigation is unclear.
Smith couldn’t be reached for comment Sunday.
Younce also claims Hicks asked the booster club treasurer for $400 to help offset tuition costs for Jassey at Rose Hill Christian that were being paid by the booster club president. Younce claims Hicks was given $400 from the booster club funds before they were deposited in the club’s bank account.
Jassey played in summer games for Greenup County in the summer of 2004 when he was not enrolled as a student, according to the documents. Jassey never played for the Musketeers during a regular season and actually finished his senior year at Rose Hill. He also never played for the Royals.
According to the charges, Roger Gillum, father of Zach and Cody Gillum and the current Greenup County golf coach, was asked by Hicks to transfer his sons to Greenup County from Rose Hill. The charges claim Hicks promised Zach Gillum 25 shots a game and that Cody Gillum would start.
Reached by telephone Sunday, Gillum confirmed the charges.
The charges regarding his sons were made based on a deposition he had given at Younce’s request, he said.
Gillum said he didn’t make the initial allegations — that he’d just answered questions truthfully at the deposition.
“I didn’t volunteer any information,” he said. “I don’t have a dog in the fight ... Hicks’s comments did not affect my decision on bringing the boys back to Greenup County.”
The charges also claim Hicks asked Robinson to transfer to Greenup County when he was a student at another high school. The charges indicate Hicks filed a complaint to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, claiming Robinson had been recruited by Russell, but withdrew the complaint after being informed Robinson’s mother had 24 to 26 calls from Hicks to the Robinson residence.
Only part of the allegation regarding her son is true, said Austin Robinson’s mother, Lisa Robinson.
“He never asked him to go to Greenup. The only thing he did was ask him to come to open gym,” she said.
Lisa Robinson refused to comment on the phone record allegations and declined further comment on the matter, saying she doesn’t want the controversy to mar her son’s senior year.
Hicks is also charged with making inquiries about Campbell’s ability to transfer to Greenup County, inviting Thomas to play in Greenup County’s open gym and being present when the Indianapolis player — who was enrolled at another school — was shooting in the Greenup County gymnasium.
The report indicates Hicks told Smith and others Crawford was a “hit man” who was conducting a “witch hunt.”
Hicks said he hadn’t recruited any players and the KHSAA had investigated and found the Gillum boys eligible. He declined further comment on advice of his attorney.
Hicks’ suspension for 10 working days came just prior to Greenup County’s participation in the Town Square Holiday Tournament at Boyd County. Because school was not in session, the suspension ran through Jan. 16.
At the conclusion of that suspension, Younce added another 15 working days to the suspension because he said he needed more time to resolve the matter. Hicks’ suspension now runs through Feb. 6.
The internal investigation, which has been ongoing for about three months, came about five months after Hicks filed a complaint against the district with the Office of Civil Rights, a division of the U.S. Department of Education.
A DOE spokesman indicated the complaint claimed the district retaliated against the complainant (Hicks) because of a 2005 inquiry to the Office of Civil Rights.
The original Office of Civil Rights inquiry involved allegations of racial discrimination and arose from complaints by a counselor at Greenup County High School and the parent of a student there.
That complaint alleged former principal Randall Peffer had used racially derogatory remarks, discriminated with regard to racially offensive clothing, limited playing time of black players in basketball games and graded the portfolios of black students more stringently than those of white students.
The report issued at the conclusion of that inquiry cleared Peffer of the allegations, but indicated he had been disciplined for using a racially offensive remark.
In documents obtained by The Independent dated Dec. 21, 2006, that inform Hicks of his original 10-day suspension, Greenup County Schools Superintendent John F. Younce outlines charges against Hicks that came as a result of Crawford’s investigation.
Hicks, who verified the documents are authentic, denied the charges.
The coach’s involvement with several players was reviewed. The players listed in the charges are former Maryland high school player Saihou Jassey, former Greenup County players Zach Gillum and Cody Gillum, current Russell player Austin Robinson, current Ashland player Matt Thomas, current South Webster (Ohio) player Josh Campbell and an unidentified student from Indianapolis.
“After conducting a lengthy investigation, I am charging you with insubordination, conducting (sic) unbecoming a teacher and neglect of duty pursuant to KRS 161.790,” Younce wrote.
The report also indicates Hicks attempted to fire assistant basketball coach Jason Smith, but Younce said Hicks did not have the legal authority to do so.
“You attempted to usurp my authority as Superintendent on December 20, 2006, and attempted to terminate the services of Jason Smith, Assistant Boys’ Basketball Coach,” Younce wrote. “Under Kentucky law, only the superintendent has the authority (to) make personnel decisions, including the decision to terminate school staff.”
Whether Hicks attempted to fire Smith because of his participation in the internal investigation is unclear.
Smith couldn’t be reached for comment Sunday.
Younce also claims Hicks asked the booster club treasurer for $400 to help offset tuition costs for Jassey at Rose Hill Christian that were being paid by the booster club president. Younce claims Hicks was given $400 from the booster club funds before they were deposited in the club’s bank account.
Jassey played in summer games for Greenup County in the summer of 2004 when he was not enrolled as a student, according to the documents. Jassey never played for the Musketeers during a regular season and actually finished his senior year at Rose Hill. He also never played for the Royals.
According to the charges, Roger Gillum, father of Zach and Cody Gillum and the current Greenup County golf coach, was asked by Hicks to transfer his sons to Greenup County from Rose Hill. The charges claim Hicks promised Zach Gillum 25 shots a game and that Cody Gillum would start.
Reached by telephone Sunday, Gillum confirmed the charges.
The charges regarding his sons were made based on a deposition he had given at Younce’s request, he said.
Gillum said he didn’t make the initial allegations — that he’d just answered questions truthfully at the deposition.
“I didn’t volunteer any information,” he said. “I don’t have a dog in the fight ... Hicks’s comments did not affect my decision on bringing the boys back to Greenup County.”
The charges also claim Hicks asked Robinson to transfer to Greenup County when he was a student at another high school. The charges indicate Hicks filed a complaint to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, claiming Robinson had been recruited by Russell, but withdrew the complaint after being informed Robinson’s mother had 24 to 26 calls from Hicks to the Robinson residence.
Only part of the allegation regarding her son is true, said Austin Robinson’s mother, Lisa Robinson.
“He never asked him to go to Greenup. The only thing he did was ask him to come to open gym,” she said.
Lisa Robinson refused to comment on the phone record allegations and declined further comment on the matter, saying she doesn’t want the controversy to mar her son’s senior year.
Hicks is also charged with making inquiries about Campbell’s ability to transfer to Greenup County, inviting Thomas to play in Greenup County’s open gym and being present when the Indianapolis player — who was enrolled at another school — was shooting in the Greenup County gymnasium.
The report indicates Hicks told Smith and others Crawford was a “hit man” who was conducting a “witch hunt.”
Hicks said he hadn’t recruited any players and the KHSAA had investigated and found the Gillum boys eligible. He declined further comment on advice of his attorney.
Hicks’ suspension for 10 working days came just prior to Greenup County’s participation in the Town Square Holiday Tournament at Boyd County. Because school was not in session, the suspension ran through Jan. 16.
At the conclusion of that suspension, Younce added another 15 working days to the suspension because he said he needed more time to resolve the matter. Hicks’ suspension now runs through Feb. 6.
The internal investigation, which has been ongoing for about three months, came about five months after Hicks filed a complaint against the district with the Office of Civil Rights, a division of the U.S. Department of Education.
A DOE spokesman indicated the complaint claimed the district retaliated against the complainant (Hicks) because of a 2005 inquiry to the Office of Civil Rights.
The original Office of Civil Rights inquiry involved allegations of racial discrimination and arose from complaints by a counselor at Greenup County High School and the parent of a student there.
That complaint alleged former principal Randall Peffer had used racially derogatory remarks, discriminated with regard to racially offensive clothing, limited playing time of black players in basketball games and graded the portfolios of black students more stringently than those of white students.
The report issued at the conclusion of that inquiry cleared Peffer of the allegations, but indicated he had been disciplined for using a racially offensive remark.