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SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane’s Lewis and Clark High School is making big changes. Four of the school’s football coaches have been disciplined after an internal investigation found they engaged in inappropriate workplace behavior.
KREM 2 obtained copies of the initial complaint, as well as the district’s final report, which says the coaches made “vulgar comments” about students and staff and created a “negative culture” at the school.
The coaches were often seen together on the sidelines at Lewis and Clark football games—Athletic Director Dave Hughes, Head Coach Joe Ireland, and assistants Trevor Mott and Michael Johnston. But a Spokane Public Schools (SPS) investigation found their behavior in the halls of Lewis and Clark earlier this school year crossed the line.
According to documents, it was in November 2023 when a student teacher from Whitworth University reported multiple occasions where she said the coaches used inappropriate language when referring to students, referring to them as “f*cking dildos” and “r*tards.” Several other staff members also reported repeated occasions of “locker room talk” between the four coaches during lunchtime—specifically saying they referred to female breasts as “fun bags,” and used other derogatory terms, like dumba**, dipsh*t, and “slap dick.”
According to the report, the student teacher said there was the “perception of a clique between the football guys, and it created a negative culture towards women in the health and fitness program, so much so, that no one wanted to report anything in fear of retaliation.” She said the environment made her feel “small” and “vulnerable.”
SPS district officials told KREM 2 the student-teacher first reported her concerns to the HR department at Whitworth, where she was still a student. It was Whitworth which then notified the district.
“Whenever there is a report of misconduct, we investigate it vigorously,” SPS Superintendent Dr. Adam Swinyard said. “And then we take appropriate employment actions within the parameters of Washington State law.”
District records show all four coaches were immediately placed on paid administrative leave, pending an investigation. All four were questioned, as were other LC staff members.
The investigation report also mentions other inappropriate incidents, including one where Johnston is accused of “grabbing a student by the shoulders, and yelling, “I will f*cking kill you.” On another occasion, staff members said the coaches used the sex education supplies, including a practice penis and condoms, and left them on a different student teacher’s desk as a prank. After several months on leave, the final investigation concluded Hughes, Ireland, Mott, and Johnston “crossed professional lines and boundaries,” making comments that were “inappropriate, unprofessional and created an offensive environment.” It also found it more likely than not that at least some of the group “played a joke on a female staff member” that was “unacceptable,” and likely “engaged in retaliatory behavior” towards other staff members.
The district confirmed to KREM 2 that all four coaches were given verbal warnings, and told their coaching contracts would not be renewed next year. Trevor Mott and Michael Johnston remain at LC as teachers. Dave Hughes voluntarily retired, effective March 12, after 37 years with the district, as a teacher, coach and athletic director. Joe Ireland resigned from his teaching role and will not be working at any SPS school next year.
KREM 2 has learned Ireland was recently hired as the new head football coach at University High School in the Central Valley district. SPS tells me it did share its findings of Ireland’s inappropriate conduct with Central Valley as part of the hiring process.
In a statement to KREM 2, the Central Valley District said, “When the employee in question was hired for the 2024-2025 school year, all hiring procedures were followed, which included confidential reference checks. There was nothing in this process to preclude employing the individual.”
Meanwhile, at SPS, Superintendent Dr. Swinyard says this type of conduct simply will not be tolerated.
“It’s 2024. And we have high standards for what we expect from our educators,” Dr. Swinyard said.
“We want our schools to be a positive, positive and welcoming space for everyone,” said Dr. Swinyard. “We want our students to feel a sense of belonging and connection, we want our families to feel that and we want our staff to have a positive, enjoyable place to come to work every day.”
KREM 2 reached out to all four former coaches but did not hear back.
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