Tulsa World: Trimble suspended from coaching at Jenks

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Trimble suspended from coaching at Jenks

Jenks coach Allan Trimble with his team after last season's 6A title game. Tulsa World file

By Staff Reports
Published: 10/2/2009 3:19 PM
Last Modified: 10/2/2009 11:17 PM

View the documents regarding the investigation into the Jenks football program.

Jenks football coach Allan Trimble has imposed a self-suspension from his coaching duties the remainder of this semester, according to Jenks superintendent Kirby Lehman.

The coach who led Jenks to nine state championships since taking over in 1996 will no longer lead the Trojans this season. He did not coach tonight's road game against Sapulpa. Offensive coordinator Loren Montgomery has been named interim coach.

"He has not resigned, has not been asked to resign and resignation was never discussed," Lehman said in an interview this afternoon.

Along with Trimble's self-suspension, two other members of the Jenks athletic department were suspended in the wake of the school's penalties for using an ineligible player in the 2008 season. The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association forced Jenks to forfeit nine wins in 2008.

Others suspended at Jenks are athletic director Tony Dillingham for 15 days, and assistant football coach David Alexander for two games.

Dillingham also will immediately submit his voluntary and irrevocable resignation, which will be held and can be accepted by the Board of Education anytime bewteen the date of its tender and June 30, 2010. If not accepted by that date, it becomes void and of no legal effect.

Jarrett Lake is a University of Oklahoma commitment and one of the state's top prospects. This summer, Jenks was forced to forfeit wins because Lake was ineligible last season but participated in games. Trimble arranged for Lake's residence in the Jenks district after the player moved from Virginia, an internal investigation reported.

"Jarrett was not only allowed to live with a representative of the Jenks football program (Mr. Clyde "Red" Griffith) who was not his parent or guardian, but this living arrangement was facilitated by the head coach, who obtained the lease form and prepared the lease provisions," according to a report submitted to the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association by Jenks High School.

Attempts to contact Trimble, who was not at a press conference today, have been unsuccessful. He submitted a letter agreeing to a suspension. In the letter, he said he took full responsibility for the violations within the football program.

After the OSSAA ruled against Jenks in summer, the school commissioned Tulsa law firm Rosenstein, Fist and Ringold to produce a report on the situation regarding Lake.

Lake was ruled ineligible by the OSSAA in July for two primary reasons -- a violation of the OSSAA's residency rules, and he was ineligible at his previous school before transferring. Lake is a senior but is ineligible for football this season.

In July, the OSSAA placed Jenks on warning until the end of July 2010. A warning allows a school to participate in postseason games.

It's not clear if Jenks could face a more severe OSSAA penalty in light of information revealed in the school's investigation. If Jenks is placed on probation, the school would be ineligible for postseason play.

The OSSAA board will review information from Jenks' investigation at the Oct. 7 board meeting, said OSSAA executive secretary Ed Sheakley. The OSSAA board still hasn't seen the information from Jenks' investigation, Sheakley said.

"We will go into executive session, and we will discuss the report and also the self-imposed penalties by Jenks," Sheakley said.

Could Jenks be placed on probation and miss the postseason this year?

"It's still under the investigative stage from our end," Sheakley said. "I would not want to speculate on that." By Staff Reports

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COMMENTS

Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "Jenks football coach is suspended," which was published on 10/3/2009. So far, 144 comments have been made.

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