Leroy Combs out as Northwest Classen basketball coach

Leroy Combs has been let go as boys basketball coach at Northwest Classen

Leroy Combs will not be brought back as the boys basketball coach at Northwest Classen.

“I was told by my principal that she was going to open up my job to all applicants and do you have any questions,” Combs said. “I’m going to try to stay in coaching. I love working with young kids.”

A former NBA player who starred at Star Spencer and Oklahoma State, Combs had been reassigned in his teaching role this school year, splitting the week between to two Oklahoma City elementary schools.

After going 18-6, the Knights fell short of the state tournament, losing in the area playoffs. During the same time, Combs’ father, Edgar Combs, was on trial for murder following the 2010 death of a woman in Leroy Combs’ home.

Leroy Combs testified against his father, who was convicted of second-degree murder on March 4. That’s the same day as Northwest Classen’s final game, a loss to El Reno in the Class 5A west area loser’s bracket.

“I was dealing with a lot personally and trying to keep my team focused on what we needed to do to get to the state tournament,” the coach said. “Everything I was going through affected me, considering I had to testify against my father. And it affected the kids, because they were concerned for me.

“But I take full responsibility for us not making it to state.”