Abusive High School Coach Is Suspended for Five Years
A high school coach accused of verbally and physically abusing students was suspended from coaching for five years, school officials said.
Edward Frank Murin, a football and basketball coach at Lassen Union High School, must take cultural awareness training, officials said, adding that a notice of unprofessional conduct will be placed in his personnel file.
The settlement came after four years of complaints against Murin from parents and students who said the coach used racial slurs, slammed students’ heads against lockers and threw chalk, keys and erasers at them.
Murin has denied the charges.
The school board voted 3 to 1 Friday night to suspend Murin, saving the district from possibly losing state funds for violating racial discrimination laws.
Attorneys for the state Department of Education had suggested the district be denied state funds after its earlier refusal to suspend Murin and prohibit him from coaching.
Murin, a well-known teacher and coach, had held the job for nearly 20 years.
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