A Kelowna high school football coach is being investigated by BC School Sports after concerns were brought forward by Okanagan Mission Secondary School (OKM).
OKM Principal Derek Lea said that allegations against Coach Johannes Van Leenen first came to light in December 2021.
sa国际传媒淲e did an investigation and found that we had valid concerns with the allegations,sa国际传媒� said Lea. sa国际传媒淪o, we parted ways with coach Johannes and forwarded that information. We self-reported that information to BC School Sports to allow them to make a determination about what the outcome would be and what the official sanctions from BC School Sports would be.sa国际传媒�
Lea said initial reports were related to undue influence, or a situation where someonesa国际传媒檚 free will is replaced by that of another. Van Leenen allegedly paid students on the team under the guise they would do work for him, but Lea noted there is no evidence of any work being done.
Van Leenen is also accused of allowing over-age, ineligible individuals to play in a game against Salmon Arm.
A letter was sent by the school to parents in early February informing them of Van Leenensa国际传媒檚 resignation.
With each new allegation, Lea said they willingly sent the information for investigation.
sa国际传媒淎t this point, it is sort of unofficial additional sanctions. Wesa国际传媒檙e waiting for the official letter,sa国际传媒� Lea commented.
Allegations also arose that Van Leenen allowed an out-of-area student to use his residential address in order to play with the team. Lea confirmed the student was never registered to attend the school.
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Although the spring football season is simply for training, OKM athletes will not have the chance to get on the field.
sa国际传媒淭he problem with the spring season for us is that we have to have a new head coach,sa国际传媒� said Lea. sa国际传媒淥ne of the sanctions or one of the expectations of BC School Sports is that we have an oversight plan in place before starting football, which we feel we have ready for them, but part of that oversight plan is to ensure that we have a new teacher sponsor.sa国际传媒�
Lea said the last teacher sponsor did a great job, but he was also the athletic director.
sa国际传媒淏C School Sport felt having an additional layer of oversight so that the teacher sponsor was separate from the athletic director needed to happen.sa国际传媒�
OKM is looking at a number of candidates for a new head coach. Lea said anyone interested in the position should contact the school.
sa国际传媒淲e have a relatively new football program. We are looking forward to having the program ready to go for fall when the competitive season starts.
sa国际传媒淎nd although one of the sanctions we believe will be that we are ineligible for playoffs, we hope to have a full competitive season prior to the playoffs.sa国际传媒�
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brittany.webster@blackpress.ca
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