Former Powell football coach John Allen has been cleared on allegations that he “unnecessarily” placed students at risk of injury. The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported that Allen was notified Tuesday by phone and received a three-paragraph letter from the Tennessee Department of Children Services reading that the investigation had been classified as “unsubstantiated.” Allen resigned as Powell’s football coach last month. He sent a photocopy of the DCS letter to the Knoxville newspaper Wednesday. The DCS verified the letter. “It’s basically an allegation that I played a player that was injured,” Allen told the News-Sentinel. “But we have a process in place with a trainer that clears players. Once the investigation was over and done, the truth was revealed.” Allen was placed on administrative suspension from coaching with pay on Oct. 17 amid allegations that he “unnecessarily” placed students at risk of injury. His resignation took effect on Nov. 1. Allen left the head football coaching position at Chattanooga Central High School and in January came to Powell where his record was 1-7 before he resigned. Allen told the paper he isn’t sure if he’ll coach again, but said he will move his family back to Chattanooga in May. “It’s been a tough year,” the 49-year-old told the News-Sentinel. “I think that I’ve been in it so long, a head coach for 15 years, it’s getting tougher to please the parents and getting tougher to coach. When I’m spending so much time in other people’s sons lives and my family has been adapting to my career, now it’s time for me to adapt to their lives.”
Softball
• Lee University softball coach Emily Russell announced her early signees for 2015 this week, and they include area players Hallie Renee Davis from Walker Valley High School and Allison Meadows from Silverdale Baptist Academy, whose commitments or signings were reported previously. The others are pitching/hitting standout Madyson Stallcup from Weber Groves High School in Missouri, catcher Caroline Freiling from West Linn High in Oregon and infielder Stevie Baird from Beech High in Hendersonville, Tenn. All are honor students. “Hallie is a very determined and hard-working athlete,” Russell said about Davis, who can play outfield or infield and whose high school career includes 31 home runs, 39 doubles and 79 RBIs with a season to go. “I feel that she is one of the most talented softball players to come out of the Cleveland area. We always want to sign local talent, and we feel that we hit the bull’s-eye with Hallie. She is quick, aggressive and powerful. She plays the game with passion and energy.” About Meadows, an outfielder who batted .450 in summer ball, Russell also used the words “hard-working” and “determined” and said further that “she adds speed and is a strong presence from the left side. We are excited to add her to the lineup and to the program.” Stallcup holds Weber Groves’ records for games pitched, games started, wins and strikeouts and is among the school’s career leaders in several offensive categories also. Freiling hit .455 this past season for West Linn and had five homers and a .537 on-base percentage, and Baird hit .421 and had seven homers for Beech.