Coaches on the Move?

**Jason** · October 25th, 2010, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by vols1

Heard Friday night that Witten wasnt on the sidelines Friday for Battle....Serving suspension! Rumor has it he was messing with a student.

The whole team was out Friday night. They were open. Beware of rumors.

**valour** · October 27th, 2010, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by MikeJones

I was told in BSG the other day Phil was going to UVA Wise

This is true.

**joedirt** · October 28th, 2010, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by Jason

The whole team was out Friday night. They were open. Beware of rumors.

May not just be a rumor

John Battle football coach under investigation | TriCities.com

John Battle football coach under investigation
By Jim Sacco

John Battle High School?s football coach Ryan Witten won?t be on the sidelines Friday night. Authorities confirmed Wednesday that he is being investigated by the Washington County Sheriff?s Office.

School officials would not reveal who would be holding the clipboard for the Trojans, nor would they elaborate on why the 33-year-old coach would be absent. But a pair of search warrants filed in Washington County Circuit Court reveal that sheriff?s deputies searched two of the coach?s cell phones, looking for call logs, calendars, contacts, text messages, pictures and videos.

No charges have been filed.

The search warrant lists two potential criminal offenses: taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship and the use of communication systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children.

From a black Nokia phone, police seized 211 digital photographs and from a LG phone, police retained a ?digitally recorded video documenting the examination of the device.?

Sheriff Fred Newman confirmed Wednesday that the investigation is ongoing, but declined to elaborate.

Washington County Public Schools Interim Superintendant Jim Sullivan would not comment on the investigation. He said the school ?is still working on the situation? and did not know the name of the person who will be filling in for Witten on Friday, when the team travels to Castlewood for a non-district game.

John Battle Principal Jeff Hawkins did not return phone calls made to the high school and his home earlier in the week. On Wednesday at the Clinch Mountain and Hogoheegee cross country meets, Hawkins said that ?all information needs to go through the superintendant? and repeated himself when asked who would lead the Trojans against the Blue Devils.

An e-mail sent to both Sullivan and Hawkins on Wednesday asking for the name of Friday?s football coach was not returned.

Battle Athletic Director Kevin Perrigan did not return calls to his cell phone.

Witten had the Trojans on the cusp of their first .500 season since 1998. Heading into Friday?s game at Castlewood, Battle sported a 4-4 record and, under Witten, has compiled a 7-11 record in his two seasons at the school.

Since 1998, the John Battle football program has rolled out seven head coaches and has yet to win a game in the 3-year-old Clinch Mountain District.

Witten is the older brother of Dallas Cowboys tight end and former University of Tennessee standout Jason Witten. His other brother, Shawn, is head football coach at Elizabethton High School.

Ryan Witten did not return a voice mail left Friday evening and, since Monday, a recording said that his voice mail box is full.

**Jason** · October 28th, 2010, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by joedirt

May not just be a rumor

John Battle football coach under investigation | TriCities.com

John Battle football coach under investigation
By Jim Sacco

John Battle High School?s football coach Ryan Witten won?t be on the sidelines Friday night. Authorities confirmed Wednesday that he is being investigated by the Washington County Sheriff?s Office.

School officials would not reveal who would be holding the clipboard for the Trojans, nor would they elaborate on why the 33-year-old coach would be absent. But a pair of search warrants filed in Washington County Circuit Court reveal that sheriff?s deputies searched two of the coach?s cell phones, looking for call logs, calendars, contacts, text messages, pictures and videos.

No charges have been filed.

The search warrant lists two potential criminal offenses: taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship and the use of communication systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children.

From a black Nokia phone, police seized 211 digital photographs and from a LG phone, police retained a ?digitally recorded video documenting the examination of the device.?

Sheriff Fred Newman confirmed Wednesday that the investigation is ongoing, but declined to elaborate.

Washington County Public Schools Interim Superintendant Jim Sullivan would not comment on the investigation. He said the school ?is still working on the situation? and did not know the name of the person who will be filling in for Witten on Friday, when the team travels to Castlewood for a non-district game.

John Battle Principal Jeff Hawkins did not return phone calls made to the high school and his home earlier in the week. On Wednesday at the Clinch Mountain and Hogoheegee cross country meets, Hawkins said that ?all information needs to go through the superintendant? and repeated himself when asked who would lead the Trojans against the Blue Devils.

An e-mail sent to both Sullivan and Hawkins on Wednesday asking for the name of Friday?s football coach was not returned.

Battle Athletic Director Kevin Perrigan did not return calls to his cell phone.

Witten had the Trojans on the cusp of their first .500 season since 1998. Heading into Friday?s game at Castlewood, Battle sported a 4-4 record and, under Witten, has compiled a 7-11 record in his two seasons at the school.

Since 1998, the John Battle football program has rolled out seven head coaches and has yet to win a game in the 3-year-old Clinch Mountain District.

Witten is the older brother of Dallas Cowboys tight end and former University of Tennessee standout Jason Witten. His other brother, Shawn, is head football coach at Elizabethton High School.

Ryan Witten did not return a voice mail left Friday evening and, since Monday, a recording said that his voice mail box is full.

Was a rumor at the time. Way I see it is if it is not in the papers it is a rumor and should be treated as such. Now it is no longer a rumor.

**heneedsa** · October 28th, 2010, 04:10 PM

Stupid is, as stupid does. Probably thought he'd never get caught, but that what investigations are for.

**1inStripes** · October 28th, 2010, 04:17 PM

Ive heard different backgrounds on this. One would make him very innocent and give him an opportunity at a lawsuit himself if he wanted. Who knows what is true though.

**joedirt** · October 28th, 2010, 08:30 PM

I would venture to say that if his last name wasn't Witten, he would be getting blasted vigorously right now.

**NotSoSilentBob** · October 30th, 2010, 12:55 AM

I don't know the whole story, but when will these coaches/teachers ever learn?

**VHSLhelper** · October 30th, 2010, 02:36 AM

never.

Crime Scene - 2 Va. high school coaches arrested

**heneedsa** · October 30th, 2010, 08:28 AM

The Witten family isn't to smart. I think maybe Jason is the exception, thier mom got in trouble for stealing a few years ago. I don't know the whole situation a John Battle but stuff like this happens everyday. I know two people who have gotten in trouble for sending texts to underage kids, one male, one female, and both of them claim they were just kidding around, but remember who you are messing with, kids. If he did it he deserves what he gets.