NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM & WNWS.COM acquired this letter from Joey Hassell, superintendent of Haywood Schools to Bernard Childress, executive director of the TSSAA, offering options for original punishment for baseball program and coach Dusty Rhodes, who, with an assistant, were ejected during a state tournament game in Murfreesboro in May.

The school was also fined $4,500 by the TSSAA.

Please allow this letter to serve as a follow-up to our appeal meeting on Tuesday, June 4, 2019.

First, let me thank you for your prompt attention to our request for an appeal and your time yesterday. Per the
conversation near the end of the hearing, Haywood County Schools on behalf of the Haywood High School
administration are offering three optional consequences for baseball coach, Dusty Rhodes:

• Option #1: 2 Game Suspension and Fine Paid by Coach Rhodes; in addition, HCS will impose a two-year post season suspension (19/20 & 20/21) of Coach Rhodes. He will not travel or practice with the team during post season.

• Option #2: 2 Game Suspension and Fine Paid by Coach Rhodes; in addition, HCS will impose an
additional 8 regular season game suspension for Coach Rhodes.

• Option #3: 2 Game Suspension and Fine Paid by Coach Rhodes; in addition, HCS will impose an
additional 8 regular season game suspension for Coach Rhodes, and HCS will also impose a one-year
post season suspension (19/20). He will not travel or practice with the team during post season.

With acceptance of one of the proposed options, Haywood County Schools are requesting that the 2-year
restricted probation be removed from the baseball team as well as the probation be removed from the HHS
sports’ programs. This would also result in a reduction of fines.

David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomasWNWS
https://www.facebook.com/NewsTalk1015/