Former Central, Ridgeland head football coach Cortney Braswell indicted on theft of property charges

Cortney Braswell
Cortney Braswell
photo Cortney Braswell

Cortney Braswell, former head football coach at Central High School and Ridgeland High, has been indicted on theft of property charges.

The indictment, filed May 29, states Braswell, 31, allegedly took property that belonged to Central High School at some point between January 2016 and December 2017.

The indictment does not detail what items were taken, but they were valued between $1,000 and $2,500.

photo Central head coach Cortney Braswell talks during a scrimmage against Notre Dame at Central High School's Central Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 1, in Harrison, Tenn.

According to a release from the Tennessee Comptroller's Office, investigators determined that Braswell pocketed at least $2,480 in payments he received from two semi-pro football teams that had paid to use Central High School's football field for their home games. The money should have been turned over to the school.

The investigation revealed that Braswell was paid a total of at least $1,480 by a women's semi-pro team in 2016 and 2017. He was paid $1,000 by a men's semi-pro team in 2017.

Hamilton County Department of Education policy requires groups seeking to use school facilities to complete a use form and have it approved by the principal and the Office of Risk Management. The form also requires applicants to submit proof of general liability insurance. Neither team submitted this information to the high school; instead, they stated there was a verbal agreement with Braswell regarding the use of the football field and rental payments. This created a liability risk for Central High School and Hamilton County Schools.

The release also stated that investigators had made numerous attempts to meet with Braswell, who initially spoke with investigators by telephone but stopped returning their calls.

Braswell was initially arrested on June 22 in Louisville, Kentucky, where he now works as a quality control defensive assistant for the University of Louisville football program. He stepped down as Ridgeland coach after just one season in January to join the Louisville staff.

Braswell was extradited to the Hamilton County Jail, where he was booked late Wednesday night.

In his only season at Ridgeland, Braswell guided the team to an 8-4 finish and the second round of Georgia's Class AAAA playoffs. Prior to that, he was the head coach at Central for two seasons (2016-17), leading the Purple Pounders to the state playoffs each year after taking over a program that had gone 0-10 the season before he arrived. He compiled an 18-17 overall record in three seasons as a head coach. He also has worked as an assistant at Bradley Central, North Murray, East Ridge, Soddy-Daisy and Ringgold.

As a player, Braswell was a two-time all-state player and 2004 Mr. Football finalist at Baylor, and he was a member of the Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen for his senior season. By the end of his Red Raiders career he held the school record for single-game rushing yards and was the program's career rushing and scoring leader, as well. He went on to play at Liberty University.

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.

Contact Rosana Hughes at rhughes@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6327 with tips or story ideas. Follow her on Twitter @HughesRosana.

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