A former Centennial High School assistant football coach accused of making racially charged remarks to athletes allegedly threatened to hang one black player from a tree, according to documents released by the school district Tuesday.
Coach Todd Campbell was placed on administrative leave in November 2015.
Several players and parents filed a complaint in October claiming Campbell made racial remarks to the players between 2014 and 2015. Parents said they reported the incidents to head coach Ronny Mullins and Principal Randy Spain months earlier.
According to the documents released Tuesday, a black player said Campbell told him he was going to hang him in a tree.
"You need to be quiet. You see that rope over there? You see that tree back there? I’m going to hang you in that tree. I’m going to hang you by your toes," Campbell said, according to the student.
Another player said Campbell told him during practice he must be running fast because of the fried chicken in his body.
According to the documents, Campbell referred to Hispanic students as “Eses" and said a group of black students resembled the R&B boy band New Edition. Campbell is also accused of telling one student his glasses make him look like Malcolm X.
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Campbell joined the Frisco ISD in 2013 and worked as a teacher and coach at Centennial High School and Clark Middle School.
His resignation from the district became effective Feb. 29.
“The district and coach Campbell believe this action is in the best interest of both parties,” said district spokesperson Shana Wortham. “It is the district's expectation that its staff conduct themselves in a professional manner and that all staff interactions with students are respectful and reflective of that professionalism.”
The district found head coach Mullins acted appropriately. He faced no disciplinary action and was in good standing with FISD. He has since accepted a coaching position at MacArthur High School in Irving.
Documents Provided by the Frisco ISD
