Johnson remains head varsity football coach at Goldsboro

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 24, 2015 1:48 PM

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After two-plus tumultuous weeks surrounding the Goldsboro High football program, second-year coach Bennett Johnson has retained his job.

Dwight Sutton remains the school's athletics director.

The decision occurred late last week after a meeting involving Dr. Michael Dunsmore, superintendent of Wayne County Public Schools; Ms. Yvette Smith, assistant superintendent for human resources; and Mr. Dean Sauls, county athletics director.

WCPS released a statement to the News-Argus that stated, "We regret the actions taken by (the) Goldsboro High School athletic department and we deeply regret that those actions could not be reversed. The Wayne County Public Schools' Administrative department feels the pain of the student-athletes who were affected.

"We have taken appropriate action against those responsible. We remind the public that this is a personnel matter and will remain confidential."

An anonymous source said stipulations, approved by the board, were put in place for one person involved in the incident. WCPS officials also said that Johnson, Sutton and Goldsboro High Principal Brian Weeks each had the option to offer a statement.

Weeks referred all questions, including keeping Johnson and Sutton on the athletics staff, to the central office. Johnson did not return messages left by the News-Argus. Sutton was not contacted.

Shortly after the Cougars' final regular-season game at Greene Central on Nov. 6, Johnson and Sutton spoke about opting out of the playoffs due to injuries -- mainly to starting quarterback Na'shir Bowden (broken foot) and backup QB Dayquell Dawson (concussion-like symptoms). Down to their third-string quarterback, Johnson and Sutton agreed it would be the best solution and sent an email to the N.C. High School Athletic Association.

Association officials considered it an emergency and bypassed the normal protocol of filling out an "opt-out" waiver that required signatures from the school system's superintendent, the principal, the AD and the head coach.

Johnson and Sutton were told they made the playoffs and had until 11 a.m. Saturday to reconsider their position.

Weeks had no knowledge of the decision until he was contacted by the News-Argus late Sunday evening after a Twitter follower uploaded a comment from a forum on NCPreps.com regarding the Cougars opting out of the postseason. The following morning, Weeks contacted Sauls at the central office and in a brief conversation with the News-Argus said that "now it's just a matter of how it's handled."

He also said he would have never signed the form.

As word spread on social media and throughout the community, parents, supporters and alumni flooded the WCPS office with phone calls voicing their displeasure over Johnson's hasty decision that denied the seniors an opportunity to play one more game. Many asked to have the decision reversed, but once the playoffs are seeded they cannot be changed per Association policy.

Had Goldsboro chosen not to opt out, it would have received the No. 15 seed and traveled to SouthWest Edgecombe in the first round of the Class 2-A (small-school) playoffs. The Cougars (5-6 overall) were replaced by Farmville Central.

A petition demanding the resignation of Johnson, Sutton and Weeks just recently appeared on change.org. More than 330 supporters with ties to the community have signed the on-line appeal and more than 200 comments have been posted.