Greene County Schools: Tennis coach's texts to players have been addressed

Greene County Schools told parents it cannot specify how it addressed “inappropriate” text messages parents said a Greene Central High School girls tennis coach sent to players, but they have been addressed.

During a public address period at the Greene County Board of Education’s Aug. 19 meeting, parent Tracy Smith said she was made aware of the messages sent to players by coach Tim Medlin on July 31. The following day she reached out to the administration about the messages, including one about dancing to an “inappropriate song” for two minutes, Smith said.

Smith said she emailed Superintendent Frank Creech, the district’s athletic director and the Board of Education to request a meeting about the texts. She said she received a message back from Creech but no other responses. She said she sent multiple emails to the board.

Smith said on Aug. 7 she received word from Creech that the board was addressing the situation but details could not be provided because it was a personnel matter.

A spokeswoman for Greene County Schools was asked about the texts later and said the matter had been addressed, but echoed that details were unavailable on the grounds of employee confidentiality. She added that any clarification would involve confidential personnel information.

Two other parents said that Medlin did not attend practices for a time before he made a “sudden” return. One parent said she did not question Medlin’s character and did not believe the messages to players were sent maliciously. She said they made her and her daughter uncomfortable, however, and that an apology around the time of the incident would have gone a long way in making amends.

Scott Davis, another parent, told the board that it appeared no action was taken toward Medlin. He also criticized the lack of transparency and said it “sends a message” to parents, players and the community at large.

At the Aug. 19 meeting, an attorney for the county told parents that the board is obligated by law to keep personnel matters confidential.