Lewis and Clark High School disciplines four football coaches

SPOKANE, Wash. — Big changes are coming at Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane. Four of the school’s football coaches have been disciplined after an internal investigation found they engaged in inappropriate workplace conduct.

KREM 2 obtained copies of the original complaint as well as the district’s final report, which said 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 an investigation by Spokane Public Schools (SPS) found that their behavior in the halls of Lewis and Clark went too far earlier this school year.

According to the documents, in November 2023, a Whitworth University student teacher reported several incidents in which she felt coaches used inappropriate language when referring to students, calling them “fucking dildos” and “morons.” Several other staff members also reported repeated “locker room talk” between the four coaches during lunch breaks – specifically, they said they referred to female breasts as “fun bags” and used other derogatory terms such as complete moron, complete idiot, and “wimp.”

According to the report, the student teacher said there was “a perception of a clique among the football boys, and that created a negative culture toward women in the health and fitness program, so much so that no one wanted to report anything for fear of retaliation.” She said that environment made her feel “small” and “vulnerable.”

SPS district officials told KREM 2 that the student teacher first reported her concerns to human resources at Whitworth, where she was still a student. Whitworth then notified the district.

“When there is a report of misconduct, we investigate it thoroughly,” said SPS Superintendent Dr. Adam Swinyard. “And then we take appropriate employment action under Washington state law.”

District records show that all four coaches were immediately placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. All four were interviewed, as were other LC employees.

The investigation report also mentions other inappropriate incidents, including one in which Johnston is accused of “grabbing a student by the shoulders and screaming, ‘I’m going to f***ing kill you.'” On another occasion, staff said trainers left sex education class materials, including a practice penis and condoms, on another student’s desk as a prank. After several months of leave, the final investigation concluded that Hughes, Ireland, Mott and Johnston “crossed professional boundaries” and made comments that were “inappropriate and unprofessional and created an offensive atmosphere.” It also found that it was more likely that at least some of the group “played a prank on a female staff member” that was “unacceptable” and that they likely “retaliated” against other staff members.

The district confirmed to KREM 2 that all four coaches were given verbal warnings and that their coaching contracts will not be renewed next year. Trevor Mott and Michael Johnston will remain at LC as teachers. Dave Hughes voluntarily retired effective March 12 after serving the district as a teacher, coach and athletic director for 37 years. Joe Ireland retired from teaching and will not work at any SPS schools next year.

KREM 2 has learned that Ireland was recently hired as the new head football coach at University High School in the Central Valley district. SPS told me it shared its findings regarding Ireland’s inappropriate behavior with Central Valley as part of the hiring process.

In a statement to KREM 2, the Central Valley District said, “All hiring procedures were followed in hiring the employee in question for the 2024-2025 school year, including confidential reference checks. There was nothing in that process that precluded the individual from being employed.”

Meanwhile, Superintendent Dr. Swinyard at SPS explains that such behavior will simply not be tolerated.

“It is the year 2024 and we have high expectations of our teachers,” said Dr. Swinyard.

“We want our schools to be a positive, upbeat and welcoming place 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 work every day.”

KREM 2 contacted all four former coaches but received no response.

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