Tim Stogsdill out at PC West

On the heels of one of the best seasons in school history, Putnam City West’s Tim Stogsdill will not be retained as boys basketball coach.

“Mr. Stogsdill’s status as a teacher at Putnam City West hasn’t changed,” Putnam City Schools director of communications Steve Lindley said Wednesday. “He has been advised that he won’t have that coaching position next year.”

Stogsdill coached the Patriots to 22 victories and a Class 6A state semifinal appearance, the school’s second trip to state in its history and first since 1977.

The season was marred by two incidents. One forced the Patriots to forfeit five games from December for the use of an ineligible player during the 2008-09 season, the result of a paperwork oversight in the athletic department. The second resulted in Stogsdill being suspended for the opening round of the state tournament after an academically ineligible player dressed out for the first half of a game.

Stogsdill became aware of the situation at halftime and did not let the player return to the bench in uniform for the second half.

“We weren’t trying to hide anything,” Stogsdill said at the time. “He didn’t play in the game. We thought we did the right thing… It was just as honest mistake.”

PC West school and athletic department officials deferred to Lindley for comment, but when asked if the removal of Stogsdill from his coaching position was related to the two incidents, Lindley said he could not discuss the details of personnel matters.

Stogsdill said he learned of PC West principal Buster Meeks’ decision to replace him last week.

“I was called into my principal’s office and handed a perfect evaluation for my classroom and then was told he wanted to go in a different direction in basketball,” Stogsdill said.