Superintendent Rick Smith Removes Basketball Coach from Ooltewah High School

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF-TV) Hamilton county school superintendent Rick Smith Monday denied the district tried to cover up details of the Ooltewah Basketball scandal.
In a hastily-called news conference, Smith conceded his office was late in responding to the public outcry.
The Ooltewah basketball coach has been removed from his job while the criminal investigation proceeds.

SUPT. RICK SMITH, HCDE " I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the fact that I know that people are angry, and they’re frustrated, and they are outraged.."

The superintendent was responding to heavy criticism of the way the schools responded to the vicious attack on a freshman basketball player by 3 teammates in Gatlinburg on December 22nd. Two of those students remain in jail and may be tried as adults…one is released, and the 15 year old victim is recovering from serious wounds resulting from an attack that by now you know all about.
Some parents are calling for Smith’s resignation because of what some felt was a cover-up .

SUPT. SMITH  "With all the things that have been said, very personal things, directed toward me and others, I can take that..and I will take that but I’m going to sit idly by and see that kind of thing said and have me as a superintendent ignore it."

Smith says the school board and administration will look at creating a much stronger set of policies to deal with incidents like this.
In hindsight, Smith says, he would have stopped the season the moment he heard about the incident, and moved quicker to tell the public.

SUPT. SMITH "I needed to say some of those things and I regret that …I wish what I’m saying to you today..a week ago."

Smith said he thought at the time there was a gag order, placed by investigators in Sevier county.

Sheriff Jim Hammond is working with the Hamilton county district attorney’s office to look into complaints that there is a culture of hazing in local schools.

Smith, meanwhile, has made on3 major change in staffing.

SUPT. SMITH "..have not demoted anybody at this point, I have transferred the basketball coach out of Ooltewah high school …Put him in a non-student section of the system."

Smith and Hammond say they will share as as much information as they can as the investigation continues.
Coach Andre Montgomery has been assigned to a job that has no contact with students.