Jenks Schools To Hire Sports Compliance Cop

By Jeffrey Smith, The News On 6

JENKS, OK -- As part of the district's investigation into repeated rule violations, Jenks will hire a sports compliance officer. Jenks will be the first 6A high school to hire a dedicated compliance officer.

The details of the compliance cop job are still being worked out, but a new employee would set the district back tens of thousands of dollars.

"They would need to give specific focus to residency and rule nine procedures," said Tara Thompson, Jenks spokesperson.

The compliance cop will audit the Athletic Department at least quarterly.

"Well obviously we've identified that there's a problem in our athletic program. And we want to get rid of that problem," Thompson said.

In a 50-word penalty buried in the back of a nearly 50-page report, the Jenks Trojans will hire a dedicated sports compliance officer.

Read the findings of the Jenks athletic department investigation

"They would need to give specific focus to residency and rule nine procedures," Thompson said.

The compliance cop will audit the Athletic Department at least quarterly.

The officer will be in place by March. It's unclear if it will be a full-time or part-time position. It's also unclear if the district will make a transfer or hire someone new.

What is clear is the money for the position would come from the district's general fund. Will that be a burden on the school district in these economic times?

"Yes," said Tara Thompson, Jenks Public Schools spokesperson.

"We're hurting for money just like all other Oklahoma school districts are right now, but if that's something that we need to do based on the OSSAA recommendations, then it's just something we're going to have to find the money to do."

The president of the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Athletic Association board says Jenks needs to learn a lesson from their self-imposed penalties.

 "If you have a kid walk in that you don't know where they came from, you better find out. Cause somebody knows," said Stephanie Spring, OSSAA Board President.

Some 6A coaches think the board can use this scandal to set a tone.

"Either you have moved into a district properly and you have residence, or you don't," said Broken Arrow coach Ron Lancaster.

Related Story 10/5/2009: BA's Coach Ron Lancaster Responds To Jenks Investigation

School officials admit mistakes were made and are making the right moves to make sure they don't happen again.

Other self-imposed penalties include a season-long suspension for Head Coach Allen Trimble and a two-week suspension for the district's athletic director.

The 14-member OSSAA Board will vote Wednesday morning on whether that's enough or if they're going to enact further punishments.