Actually Infuriating

The state has not taken any action against Phillip Koons license. Likely because the Ringling superintendent and either Walters Stitt or both go golfing together.

State agents were investigating Koons after allegations of bullying and physically abusing football players. Some of the players told police that Koons allegedly had them do warm-ups naked, which gave them burns on their genitals.

Some more accounts:

Players are cursed and belittled for missing practice. I was called a pussy when I missed practice because my mother was put in the hospital. I was told I didn’t deserve to play and humiliated in front of the team in the locker room after a game,” one player wrote. “The constant verbal and mental abuse had made some players depressed, anxious, and/or thinking about committing suicide. I have tried to be there for those going through these troubles. (…) One player would get upset after Phillip Koons would call him racial slurs. He felt targeted for his skin color, and we were upset seeing how much this hurt our teammate.”

Another victim impact statement referenced prior allegations about Koons’ behavior at past coaching and teaching jobs.

“I have at times had some suicidal thoughts due to the situation, the pain, and the betrayal. I have felt that the ones I have trusted most and thought were great people have turned their backs on me and others,” the student wrote. “I cannot stand the fact that Phil and the other abusers have continued to get away with this for so long and are still able to keep doing this to kids and other people. I have been traumatized by all of this. I feel I have suffered academically due to the mental strain and depression making it hard for me to focus on my work. (…) My family has been hurt and attacked by the people who support him. My family, friends, and I have been harassed on social media as well as my family and friends have been harassed face to face. I have been hurt and stressed by this entire process. This man and others that are involved deserve to be punished for what they have done.”

While Koons has been listed as the Ringling High School principal on the bottom of the district’s website for months since he was charged, the site now lists Jackie Matherly in that position. Koons was placed on administrative leave during part of the investigation, but he was reinstated by the district.

Remember - Summer Bosmier was driven out of the state for posting a QR code when they made her cover up her library. OSDE spent months wasting everyone’s time by trying to change the dates to avoid a media presence.

The coaching associations contact information is publicly available if you want to let them know how you feel about this.

Greg Warner from Poteau is also a fun name - I think his scandal was letting players mom’s sleep with him for positions. But I’m sure a lot of names on this list would have some very interesting search results… almost as if coaching in the South is a “sexual abuse” license…