An investigation into Center Grove High School football coach Eric Moore found evidence that he used inappropriate language and aggressive physical contact, and a “larger, systemic issue within the culture of our extra-curricular activities,” according to a letter the school district sent to parents on Friday evening.
Moore is not being terminated, demoted or suspended without pay as a result of the findings. The district does not comment on any potential disciplinary action that does not fall into those categories, Center Grove Superintendent Richard Arkanoff and school board members said in the letter.
The investigator spoke with 42 people, who school officials are not identifying. The findings regarding Moore included:
Allegations related to inappropriate language were substantiated.
Allegations related to aggressive physical contact were found to be credible but did not rise to the level of abuse.
Allegations of intimidating and embarrassing students were substantiated.
Allegations were not substantiated related to pressuring athletes to return from injuries, violating IHSAA rules about practices, interfering with parents and students contacting college recruiters and other miscellaneous claims.
The school district supports Moore, the letter said.
“We have seen a range of emotions and an outpouring of support for Coach Moore. The lasting impact he has had on the lives of many of our students is undeniable. As we move forward, we will support Coach Moore and all of our coaches and sponsors, while providing accountability to our high standards,” the letter said.
Neither Moore nor his attorney, Jackie Ponder, were available Friday evening. Moore has continued to teach and coach during the investigation, the release said.
Last month, Center Grove released a statement saying that Moore was the subject of an independent investigator looking into claims that the coach was “abusing his authority as a coach by being verbally abusive toward his players.”
The investigation is prompting changes that will impact the culture of extra-curricular activities, the letter said.
School officials found that improvement is needed to meet the school’s high expectations, while also respecting everyone involved, the letter said.
The school district found it had not clearly outlined expectations for the behavior of coaches and other activity sponsors, and is now developing those expectations in a handbook for all coaches and activity sponsors. School officials are also drafting guidelines for student-athletes and others who participate in activities to make clear the resources available, what is expected of them and how they should be treated, the letter said.
Moore has expressed concerns about the increasing demands on student-athletes, and is supportive of the new steps, the letter said.
School officials said the attention to the issue has been difficult for the community.
“It is our sincere hope that our community can come back together and move forward with the goal of doing what is best for our students,” the letter said.
In February, Moore, one of the winningest coaches in Indiana high school football, was put on paid administrative leave from the school district while the Indiana Department of Child Services investigated a report that Moore had assaulted an athlete, the school district said last month. The school received the initial report of the assault, and reported it to the state department of child services, which launched an investigation, the statement said.
The state department of child services told the school district later that month that its investigation had found that the assault accusation was unsubstantiated, and the case was closed.
Moore was reinstated. He has been head football coach for the Center Grove Trojans for 19 seasons, and is also the head track coach at the school of 2,500 students. He is also a physical education teacher at the high school and set up the fee-based Center Grove Power Club to help students in grades 1 through 8 with basic exercise movements.
