How is DeSoto rewarding head coach Todd Peterman after winning the school’s first state football championship in 2016? With a possible pink slip.
Yes, welcome to 2017 where what have you done for us lately rules.
Monday night, the DeSoto Independent School District school board met to discuss the future of the second year coach, who’s contract is up for renewal. However, after three hours behind closed doors, the board took no action, but the saga won’t end there. That’s because multiple media outlets are reporting that one of the reasons for the Peterman debate is because he is a white coach in a predominately black school.
According to SportsDayHS, in 2015-16, 80.4 percent of DeSoto’s 2,440 students identified as African-American, based on a report from the Texas Education Agency.
Two years ago, Peterman was promoted to head coach after seven years as the schools offensive coordinator. He replaced Claude Mathis who took a job at SMU. Mathis, who just returned to the high school ranks as the head coach at Marshall High School in Texas, is African-American,
DeSoto ISD Board President Carl Sherman, Jr. released a statement to WFAA-TV on the subject of race.
“Let me be clear — no decisions that we make are ever motivated by race,” Sherman wrote. “That is not the way we do business in DeSoto. Never has been. Never will be. And for anyone to suggest otherwise is disgusting and unacceptable. Our board is extremely diverse and we’ve considered deliberations regarding all administrative positions as a team.”
Peterman led the Eagles to a 16-0 record last season, winning the Class 6A Division II title. The Eagles finished the year ranked No. 12 in the final High School Football America national rankings.
There’s no word on when the school board will take-up the Peterman debate again.
