Grounds for Investigation and Suspension

By Brad Durham

Preface: Mendy Stotts, Chris Hobbs, and Director of Schools Dr. Grant Swallows were asked for a response to this letter in a group text. Dr. Swallows texted: “This was a meeting between the administration, coaches and family. There’s nothing that can be commented on for the public.”

Sable Winfree was informed by text from the Warren County High School girls head basketball coach Mendy Stotts on Thursday to not attend practice. Furthermore, Winfree was directed to attend a meeting on Friday about the future of playing with WC Lady Pioneers Basketball.

On Friday, November 17, 2023, Sable Winfree was dismissed from the Warren County High School Lady Pioneer basketball team by the head coach, Mendy Stotts. Four people present in the meeting reported the following conversation:

WCHS principal Chris Hobbs said, “We are not going to argue about this. You’ve already made your decision. What is your decision?” Mendy Stotts replied, “I’m done.”

A distraught Sable Winfree shared her response to the meeting and being dismissed from the team. Sable said, “I’m mad. Sad. And Mendy Stotts lied about me using the f-word in practice and snapchatting with a sixth-grade boy in an inappropriate way.”

First and foremost, I am an advocate for Sable Winfree. Sable Winfree has been an All-District player during her first three years at WCHS. Information from other sources have provided some disturbing stories and first-hand accounts of misconduct by the Lady Pioneers head coach.

I do not think Mendy Stotts should have the authority to dismiss or reprimand any more players on the team until she is investigated. Therefore, I believe she should be suspended.

The scope of the investigation should include and go beyond what is mentioned below:

Why was Sable Winfree dismissed from the team? Given at least one extreme accusation by the head coach, the veracity of the head coach’s statements must be proven or disproven by a professional investigator.
Did head coach Stotts tell several other players that she was going to run them off the team, one by one?
According to players and parents, the Lady Pioneer head coach has yelled and screamed in girls faces, intimidating and shaming them without just cause. Was this a breach of the contract the head coach made with the team?
Several parents met with coach Stotts this past Sunday about their concerns of the head coach’s behavior, none of which involved playing time. Some parents left thinking Stotts was on drugs or high. Why did the parents leave the meeting with such doubts about the head coach’s well-being?
A few of the same parents went to WCHS on Wednesday asking for a meeting with the administration. They met separately with AD and assistant principal, Phillip King. What is the WCHS administration doing about what was shared? Is there a coverup talking place to protect the head coach?
Sable was forced to sit three quarters in the first game this past Monday and scored 12 points in the 4th quarter. Coach Stotts told Sable afterwards that Sable lost the game. Is this acceptable coaching behavior? Does this behavior fit a pattern of bullying?
Several players and parents feel as though their kids are being targeted by Stotts because they played for the previous coach, Anthony Lippe. Has this been investigated?
Many players and parents feel as though the trust has been broken between the players and present head coach, in addition to members of the coaching staff. What is the administration doing to restore that trust?
Mendy Stotts has been accused of telling players and parents that she is conducting therapy with other players. Given the fact that Stotts is a school counselor, if true, this is a breach.
A middle school student allegedly heard Stotts’s middle school son say that Sable Winfree was going to end up pregnant or in jail before the school year is over. The son allegedly stated that his mother made those comments about Sable Winfree. If true, a head coach talking about a player in this fashion to her family at home is a breach and potentially grounds for dismissal.

There are sufficient grounds to believe that Sable Winfree confronting the head coach about what her son said motivated the head coach to dismiss Winfree from the team.

Several of the present members of the WCHS Lady Pioneers played for Coach Lippe for three years and never had trust issues with him. Their parents never requested a meeting with Lippe to discuss his inappropriate behavior. Why are there problems now with the head coach, Mendy Stotts?
Ironically, Lippe is an AD and administrator who was Sable Winfree’s head coach for the past three years. Lippe knows many of the present players on the team and their parents better than any administrator in the building. Lippe dismissed Stotts as an assistant coach years ago when he became head coach at WCHS. Because of his complicated history with Stotts, Lippe has not been involved in the conflict between Stotts and Sable — and the other players’ parents. Shouldn’t Lippe have been involved to help resolve the conflict between Mendy Stotts Sable Winfree?

Sable Winfree and the other players deserve to have a positive mentor, teacher and head coach. There are sufficient grounds to investigate Mendy Stotts for unprofessional and inappropriate conduct.