MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A judge ruled in favor of a former Memphis high school football coach earlier this week, according to his attorney.
The Shelby County School district fired Teli White, the former football coach of Trezevant High School, after a grading scandal in 2017. The Board upheld that district decision in 2018.
White has always maintained he didn’t change grades and filed a lawsuit to reverse his firing.
“He ordered that the school district reinstate Mr. White by the January start of school,” attorney Darrell O’Neal said of Monday’s ruling.
It’s a victory for the former coach, but O’Neal said he didn’t expect his client to return to the field, sticking instead to the classroom.
But there’s still another game to play in this matchup.
Memphis Shelby County Education Association Executive Director Keith Williams helped with White’s lawsuit. He’s concerned because the judge told the district they did not have to pay White back for the last two years he missed.
“Our concern is how are you going to make him whole?” Williams said.
He says the former coach is currently working for the city of Memphis by helping with the “second chance program,” something he now knows about all too well.
SCS released the following comment after Tuesday’s ruling.
Shelby County Schools will be exploring all legal options regarding the recent Teli White ruling.
