Coach resigns amid investigation into sexual assault with broom handle on ‘no gay Thursday’
The football coach at a school being investigated after a freshman was assaulted with a broom handle, has decided to step down.
Beware the below story contains graphic descriptions of a sexual assault.
Longtime Conestoga High School head football coach John Vogan was suspended from all coaching duties, while prosecutors investigated the case in which a teenager was held down by three more senior students and penetrated with a broom handle on what was commonly known “no gay Thursdays”.
On Thursday it was announced by the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District that Vogan was stepping down with immediate effect.
The entire varsity and junior football staff has also been relieved of its coaching duties until at least the end of the Autumn season.
A letter from the school district read: “This matter has engendered a range of reactions from many community members, all of whom care deeply about the school, the District, and our students.”
Following its own investigation, the school district said the following had taken place:
“Hazing activities occurred with some members of the football team over the past several years, including back slapping, horseplay, and obscene behaviors targeted toward underclassmen.
“These activities sometimes occurred under the label of “No Gay Thursday.”
“No interviews or other evidence indicated that any adult had knowledge of these activities.
“The locker rooms had an insufficient adult presence throughout the football season, creating an environment where hazing activities could occur.”
The letter goes on to say that ‘No Gay Thursday’ is :ignorant, intolerant, and has no place in any school”, “even though no gay students were specific targets of discrimination, the practice itself is an affront to us all.”
It goes on: “Disciplinary action has been administered to students as appropriate, and consequences were applied per the school’s disciplinary code of conduct. All students affected by these activities have been offered support from the school.”
“The head football coach has resigned effective immediately from all coaching responsibilities. The entire varsity and junior varsity football staff has also been relieved of all coaching responsibilities in all sports through the fall season. In addition, we are recommending the creation of a full-time District Athletic Director position for middle school and high school sports programs. With a full-time District Athletic Director, we will have the benefit of a leader who can make District goals for our athletes a priority without the demand of other administrative responsibilities.”
Three high school football players were earlier this month charged after allegedly sexually assaulting the 14-year-old student with a broom handle.
