WEATHERFORD, Texas – The superintendent of a small north-central Texas school district on April 17 tried to tamp down rumors about the resignation of an athletic director accused of striking two students with a broom handle.
Mineral Wells Independent School District Superintendent John Kuhn said an investigation confirmed that boys’ athletic director Seth Hobbs hit the student athletes last week with the handle, which was attached to a Nerf football used for drills. Kuhn said the district has a photo of a student left with a mark, which was reportedly shared across social media.
The incident was reported to law enforcement and the Department of Family and Protective Services, and a special investigator was appointed. A statement from the district indicated the school is cooperating “to the extent permitted by law.”
Because of concerns by parents over the safety of student athletes, district administrators chose to remove Hobbs from coaching duties and offer him reassignment and to honor his two-year contract. According to district officials, Hobbs turned down the reassignment and resigned, effective June 30.
“Because Coach Hobbs had a new two-year contract, the district agreed to keep him on administrative leave through the end of the first year and offered a separation incentive of two months’ pay,” the district said.
MWISD noted the conduct was a violation of board policy, the Employee Handbook, the Educator’s Code of Ethics, and of general coaching and teaching norms.
“School systems are responsible for protecting students’ physical safety and their mental health and for maintaining a student-centered, professional school culture where students are treated with dignity, respect, and kindness,” according to the district statement. “To ensure these obligations are met, MWISD must ensure that staff members adhere to school district policies and professional best practices. This case represents a clear violation of district policy that simply cannot be minimized or ignored. Student safety remains the district’s number one priority. While this circumstance was unexpected and extremely unfortunate, the district stands by its mission: to build a community of life-long learners in a student-centered climate emphasizing character and responsibility.”
Prior to being named boys’ AD, Hobbs had served six years as a football defensive coordinator, strength and conditioning coach and U.S. history teacher.
Messages left for Hobbs this week seeking comment did not receive a response.
Coach Clint Clayton has been named interim athletic director for the remainder of the 2022-23 school year, and MWISD plans to post the job opening soon and hire a permanent AD/head football coach prior to the beginning of next school year.