St. Genevieve Debating Indicted Coach’s Status

The athletic department at St. Genevieve High, which recently replaced its baseball and football coaches, now has a new dilemma: whether to keep on staff a popular coach who has been indicted on six felony counts.

Three-sport varsity coach Raymond L. Doyle, a former Los Angeles police detective, has been charged with forging the names of two judges on four search warrants and filling out two bogus reports based on those warrants. The alleged forgeries took place in 1992 and 1993 when Doyle worked for the LAPD.

Confronted by LAPD investigators with the allegations of misconduct in 1993, Doyle, a 25-year veteran, retired from the force rather than face disciplinary action from the department.

Doyle pleaded not guilty to the felony charges in Los Angeles Municipal Court on Sept. 29; now the school must decide whether he will be kept on staff during legal proceedings.

“Right now we are trying to balance what is best for the image of the school and what is best for the girls,” Athletic Director John Yakel said, referring to the players on the girls’ volleyball team, which is in season. “He is a popular coach. I am very happy with the way Ray handles his programs.”

If convicted, Doyle could face 16 months to three years in prison on each count. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Oct. 31. Attorney Mitch Egers said Doyle, who also coaches boys’ volleyball and girls’ basketball would have no comment.

Yakel declined to discuss the status of Doyle’s job, citing the confidentiality of personnel matters.

However, he did say school officials are paying close attention to the case.

“We are trying our best to keep on top of it,” Yakel said. “We are monitoring the situation and keeping an eye on it.”

One St. Genevieve administrator said he knew very little about the charges against Doyle.

“I had heard a little rumbling about something involving Mr. Doyle,” vice principal Donald Welch said, “but I don’t know much about it.”

Welch could not cite school policy regarding staff members charged with crimes. St. Genevieve Principal Maria Denis did not respond to messages left at her office.

The indictments against Doyle strike St. Genevieve at a time when the school’s athletic department is still reeling from turmoil caused by the firing of football Coach Jeff Trovatten earlier this year.

Trovatten said he was fired over an alleged hazing incident, which he claimed never happened. Baseball Coach Mike Wagner also was replaced in early September without explanation.

“We are saying that it is a mutual decision,” Wagner said. “But I was not asked back and I was never given a reason.”