OSSAA Board Imposes Stronger Suspension For Jenks Football Coach

NewsOn6.com

OKLAHOMA CITY - The OSSAA Board has made the self-imposed suspensions of Jenks football coach Allan Trimble and assistant coach David Alexander indefinite. 

The board made that announcement following a long executive session at hits headquarters in Oklahoma City Wednesday morning.

The OSSAA's board of directors wrapped up an executive session shortly before noon, by announcing it agreed with most of the punishment the Jenks School district decided to impose on its own athletic department.

Those suspensions can be revisited in June 2010.

Take the NewsOn6.com poll about the decision, at the bottom of this story.

The board decided not to force Jenks to forfeit any of the nine state titles won by Coach Trimble's teams at Jenks, and the team will be eligible for post-season play this year.

As NewsOn6.com and OKBlitz.com reported, last Friday afternoon the district released the results of an investigation which it had requested from the Tulsa law firm of Rosenstein, Fist & Ringold.

Read the findings of the Jenks' athletic department investigation

That investigation centered on former Jenks football player Jarrett Lake and six other unnamed players, one of which is still on the team. 

It led to the suspension of Jenks head football coach Allan Trimble for the rest of the season, a 15-day suspension for Jenks athletic director Tony Dillingham as well as lesser punishment for other members of the Jenks High School football program.

The district said it meted out the penalties to the staff members in an attempt to head off even harsher sanctions from the OSSAA.

That strategy apparently worked.

Tara Thompson, the Director of Communications for the Jenks School District, released a statement Wednesday afternoon in response to the board's decision.

Thompson wrote, "Jenks Public Schools very much appreciates the OSSAA's willingness to work with the district during this investigation, as well as their continued guidance in helping the district establish policies and procedures and provide training to prevent such issues from arising in the future. Their diligence is evidence of their mission to ensure that all athletes and school districts operate within the standards set forth by the OSSAA."

"This has been an embarrassing issue for the both the Jenks school district and the Jenks community.  However, by facing and correcting past mistakes, the Jenks Athletic Program and the entire district will emerge a stronger and more efficient organization of which all Jenks patrons can continue to be proud," said Thompson.

Keep checking NewsOn6.com and OKBlitz.com for the latest information.

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