Northwest Whitfield High School’s head girls basketball coach Tori Clemmons has been relieved of her coaching duties after less than two years in the position, said Whitfield County Schools Superintendent Mike Ewton.
Ewton said the decision was made following an investigation by the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office stemming from “complaints from some parents” about Clemmons “losing her temper in the locker room” during games.
“I can speak to the investigation being opened because of complaints that brought some things to light,” Ewton said. “We asked the sheriff’s office to investigate and they found that there was nothing criminal. But we just felt like this was what was best for Northwest and for Northwest basketball.”
At the Whitfield County Board of Education’s meeting on Jan. 6, Kellie Wade, who identified herself as the parent of a freshman player on the Bruins, spoke of complaints about Clemmons’ alleged behavior to Ewton and the school board members.
Wade said she was aware of an “incident” during the Lady Bruins’ basketball game at Dalton High School on Jan. 3 in which “a (player) was struck with a clipboard” and “a door” in the locker room.
She said this followed several complaints by parents about the “use of profanity” in the locker room.
“There is a clause that is read by (the Georgia High School Association) at the beginning of every single GHSA-sanctioned event and it forbids profanity,” she said. “Profanity was used multiple times in that locker room.”
During the board meeting, Ewton said officials would be “looking into it.”
Whitfield County Schools Communications Director Kristina Horsley confirmed Clemmons was placed on administrative leave on Jan. 16.
Ewton said Clemmons will “no longer be coaching” but will remain part of Whitfield County Schools.
“She will not be at Northwest Whitfield, but she will continue teaching in the school system,” he said. “She’s been a physical education teacher and that would be the type position she’ll go back into at a different location and at a later time.”
Ewton said the decision to remove Clemmons as head coach was made by himself and Mandie Jones, Northwest’s principal.
“We made that final decision on the coaching position and (Clemmons) made the decision to stay with us at Whitfield County Schools,” he said.
Tony Crossen, Northwest’s athletic director, said the girls basketball team’s two assistant coaches Steven Ridley and Tammy Lambert will co-lead the team until the end of the season. The regular season is scheduled to end Feb. 7.
“They started Friday and that’s what they’ll do until finishing out the season,” Crossen said. “Then, when the season’s over, we’ll start searching for a candidate for our new head coaching position.”
Clemmons, who played basketball for the Bruins before graduating in 2011, began as the school’s head coach in 2023 and led the team to a 15-12 record last year. The Bruins are 11-5 this year (4-3 in Region 7-3A).