Everyone knows that texting and driving is against the law. But texting and coaching might be just as questionable for youth coach Troy Hennum.
Less than a year after being investigated for texting one of his softball players inappropriately at Lake Washington High School, the Bothell select softball coach has resigned again – after just a week on the job at Roosevelt High School.
Hennum, 25, allegedly was put on leave after a woman came forward claiming that he sent his players out to find women, take their picture, get their phone number and text him the information.
“He submitted his resignation on Thursday,” said Seattle School District spokesperson Teresa Wippel.
Hennum had just started with the team six days prior to the incident.
Hennum allegedly sent his players on a “scavenger hunt” to find “cute women.” Kat Aagard, who works in a Seattle sports store, said that she was approached by a group of school-age girls at work. At first she was flattered and turned over her phone number. Hennum began sending her “flirty” text messages, the Seattle Times reported. She told ABC NEWS that “he seemed like a nice enough guy.” She became worried when she did an Internet search for Hennum and found news reports of the investigation at Lake Washington High School.
Aagard reported the incident to Roosevelt High School administration.
Wippel said some have questioned the district putting Hennum on leave for the incident.
“He is in a position of authority and you can’t ask players to do something like that,” said Wippel.
Lake Washington School District spokesperson Kathryn Reith said Hennum “was found to have violated district policy, but not to a level that would require a letter of reprimand or a letter of directive,” last year after he resigned from LWHS.
The Lake Washington School District’s investigation into alleged inappropriate texting between Hennum and a LWHS female student athlete found no evidence of an inappropriate relationship between the two. Hennum faced no punitive action from the district and was allowed to apply to coach for the team again but chose to apply elsewhere.
Hennum was placed on administrative leave in April 2012, just as at Roosevelt, after students reported he was texting a player. Hennum told investigators he reached out to the Kirkland student via text because he was concerned about her and that he “regretted” doing so. The student had allegedly been having off-the-field issues, investigation documents state.
Roosevelt’s assistant principal and athletic director hired Hennum and had the information from the investigation.
“They interviewed him and sat down with some folks at Lake Washington High School and discussed the situation that happened there,” said Wippel. “They also read the (investigational) report.”
Wippel said the two administrators made the recommendation to hire Hennum but ultimately it was the Roosevelt High School principal who had the final decision.
An Internet search for Hennum revealed that he has had an affiliation with the Bothell select softball team the Bandits. But he has since been removed from the web page. The Reporter has not received a reply from the organization for comment.