HIGH-SCHOOL

Haywood bans baseball coach from 2020, 2021 postseason, TSSAA board members question punishment

Tom Kreager
Jackson Sun

MURFREESBORO – Haywood administration came to the TSSAA with an alternative punishment regarding its baseball program on Tuesday.

The Tomcats were told it may be wise to come back with a new plan.

Haywood principal Latonya Jackson told TSSAA Board of Control members from West Tennessee during a special-called hearing that she had suspended baseball coach Dusty Rhodes from coaching in the postseason for the 2020 and 2021 seasons and pleaded that the baseball players not be punished.

Haywood coach Dusty Rhodes talks to pitcher Andrew Stanley (1) and catcher J.T. Lea against Chester County in a Class AA sectional on May 17, 2019.

"Allow me to correct what I failed to do in the beginning," said Jackson during a hearing at DoubleTree Hotel. "I don't condone coach Rhodes' actions."

Board of Control members suggested that may not be enough of a punishment.

Milan principal Greg Scott, a board of control member, pointed out that the alternative punishment could be just two games for Rhodes if the Tomcats lose the first game of postseason the next two years. 

"It feels like this could be two games and a few practices," Scott said.

Haywood administration said they would come back to TSSAA with a different disciplinary action. 

Board members will make a suggestion to TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress if the new punishment should be accepted or to keep the initial punishment. The school can appeal that decision to the full Board of Control during the August meeting.

Rhodes, assistant coach ejected during state tournament

Rhodes and assistant coach Alex Whitwell were ejected during the sixth inning of the Tomcats' second game of the Class AA state tournament against Sequatchie County, which Haywood lost 6-4 to be eliminated.

A video of the ejections shows Rhodes kicking dirt on the umpire after he was ejected and Haywood players restraining Rhodes. A TSSAA officials' report stated that Whitwell was ejected for using profanity.

By TSSAA rule, both coaches are suspended for the first two games of the 2020 season and the school is fined $500. Originally, Haywood officials chose to do no additional punishment. 

Last week, TSSAA gave the baseball program a two-year postseason ban and a total of $4,500 in fines after Rhodes and Whitwell were ejected on May 22. 

Under its bylaws, the TSSAA cannot punish school employees. It can only punish the athletic programs.

Jackson told board members originally she was not aware she had the authority to additionally punish the coach

A letter sent to Jackson from TSSAA assistant director Gene Menees on May 23 stated: "Based on the Official's report submitted to our office, TSSAA is requesting a written report to be submitted by (noon) on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 as to what further disciplinary action the Administration plans to initiate for unsportsmanlike conduct of your coaches."

Menees said he also spoke with athletic director Tim Seymour after the school said it didn't plan to punish its coaches more than the two-game suspension and $500 fine and asked if that was the extent of their punishment.

Menees did not offer suggestions to additional punishment, but said typically schools ask TSSAA administration if more discipline may be coming and if so, they ask for guidance or direction to what kind of additional punishment is needed. No addition or guidance was asked for, Menees said.

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.