Rochester football coach suspended amid bullying investigation

ROCHESTER, Ill. (WAND) — An investigation into bullying and hazing at Rochester High School found several coaches and administrators were aware of an event known as "bleachers" but they did not know about any improper or illegal conduct, according to a report released by the district.

Rochester Head Football Coach Derek Leonard

The investigation started after a parent contacted Superintendent Dan Cox in late September. The complaint centered around football players who gathered at the football field after dark and a student used an airsoft gun on another student "leaving welts that broke the skin."

After the complaint, Cox notified the school board's legal counsel which started an internal investigation. A week after gathering initial information the school board hired the Tueth Keeney law firm to investigate further. Merry Rhoades, a 30+ year attorney, was the lead investigator.

The 17-page report attached below was released Friday by the district.

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The findings indicated some varsity football players would gather at the football field on Thursday nights. Coaches and administrators who said they were aware of the event knew it to be a leadership meeting. Several current coaches said they took part in "bleachers" as students.

In a statement released Thursday, the district acknowledged the gathering and said football players used airsoft guns to target other team members at the football field. Other activities included something called cookie races, "where students placed cookies in between their buttocks, raced each other and the loser ate the cookie," according to the statement.

The report indicated 74 students and 19 coaches were initially interviewed by the district. Additional interviews were conducted by the outside law firm with administrators and head football coach Derek Leonard.

Leonard indicated he was aware of "bleachers" as were other coaches, but he did not have any knowledge about what took place at the gatherings. Leonard shared his team is regularly given lessons on "appropriate conduct," and performs community service projects on Sundays. The report found one coach was aware of the cookie race but didn't know the extent of what they were.

The report found no criminal charges should be pursued because of hazing. The investigation, however, uncovered acts of bullying as defined by Illinois law. Specifically, the use of airsoft guns and CO2 air pistols, cookie races, and wrestling that took place between students.

The report said even though coaches were not aware of what happened at "bleachers," the coaches "did not want to know what was happening at these Thursday night gatherings."

Leonard told investigators he wants this activity to stop, but also wants education for coaches and players on bullying, harassment, and hazing. He also wanted all on-campus activities to be supervised by a paid coach, and establish community service requirements. Rhoades, the lead outside investigator, said those recommendations did not go far enough. She recommended Leonard be suspended for Friday's game against Sacred Heart-Griffin.

Rhoades also recommended students who participated in bullying activities shouldn't be allowed to play football for the rest of the season and have other school discipline.

In a statement released Friday alongside the report, the district said it suspended Leonard for Friday's game, but no students are facing disciplinary actions because of a lack of evidence identifying specific students who took part in bullying.