Tuesday, September 23, 1997

Coleman coach suspended with pay

By BILL HART

Senior Staff Writer

COLEMAN - Jim Bob Mickler, head football coach at Coleman for the past two years, has been suspended with pay and wasn't on the sidelines last Friday night when the Bluecats played Winters.

"I haven't decided how long the suspension will last, but I don't want this thing to drag out," said Coleman superintendent Skip Casey. "I hope we can get it worked out this week. Everything depends on the ongoing investigation by the administration."

Casey declined to talk about the incident that reportedly happened last Friday afternoon. Casey said he still had to talk to lawyers, Mickler and the school board, the latter if the administration's decision calls for disciplinary action against the coach. Casey and Mickler had met Monday morning to discuss the situation.

"All I can say at this point is that I have been suspended with pay, but I hope to visit with my lawyers and hopefully then I can make a statement," Mickler said. "I can assure you that I did nothing criminal."

Offensive coordinator Randy Jones is serving as the interim head coach and handled the team in Friday's game against Winters. Jones was the assistant coach at Cooper High School when Andy Malone was removed as head baseball coach and served as the interim coach for the remainder of the 1991 season.

Mickler said he didn't think the Bluecats' 0-3 start had anything to do with the suspension.