CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – West Creek High School’s head baseball coach has been fired over text messages he exchanged with a student, but he said “there were no bad intentions,” and no criminal charges have been filed.
Clinton Magnuson, baseball coach and an assistant in the special education program, was terminated effective Feb. 26 after an investigation indicated “inappropriate messaging with a student,” according to CMCSS disciplinary records obtained by Clarksville Now. He had been moved to remote work on Feb. 9 when the investigation began.
When reached by Clarksville Now, Magnuson said he broke a rule against text messaging with a student. “It was nothing criminal, and there were no bad intentions,” he said. He said he’s moving on from it and that he left on good terms with the school administration.
CMCSS spokesman Anthony Johnson said when the administration was made aware of the texts, they immediately reported the situation to law enforcement and the Department of Children Services. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office told Clarksville Now their investigation was complete and that no criminal charges were being filed.
While teacher and coach text messaging with students isn’t fully prohibited, CMCSS guidelines state that it should only be done for “immediate and urgent contact” and only with the parents’ knowledge.