Superintendent Recommends 10-day Suspension for Manatee Football Coach

photo by Dennis Maley

BRADENTON – Superintendent Rick Mills has recommended that Manatee High School football coach and athletic director Joe Kinnan be suspended by the school board for 10 days without pay, while no longer having oversight of the athletic department's finances. The recommendation comes after an investigation into allegations of financial mismanagement related to the school's baseball program.

A few months back, MCSD investigator Troy Pumphrey initiated an investigation of Manatee High baseball coach Dwayne Strong on the basis of an anonymous letter accusing him of using his position as coach to benefit his private baseball academy, as well as other mismanagement of the team's finances. Strong resigned from the district Oct. 31, before the investigation was complete.

The complaint claims that as athletic director, Kinnan and former Manatee principal Robert Gagnon steered school funds to Strong's academy, so that Manatee players could use its facilities, benefiting Strong financially. Kinnan was given a letter of reprimand earlier this month. The same day, he announced that he would be stepping down as A.D., while staying on as head football coach.

Mills is also recommending that Gagnon receive a 10 day suspension. Gagnon, who faces felony charges related to the Rod Frazier sexual abuse scandal, has already been recommended for termination, though the board had to delay voting on his dismissal until his appeal window expired. He is currently suspended indefinitely without pay.