Duncanville High School varsity girls’ basketball coach LaJeanna Howard has allegedly violated a one-year suspension from the Texas University Interscholastic League and is now under investigation, while the rest of the coaching staff is on paid administrative leave.
Tuesday’s game against Dallas Skyline High School was canceled as a result.
Duncanville Superintendent Marc Smith released a statement reported by WFAA that read:
“I recently became aware of allegations regarding the Duncanville High School Girls’ basketball coaches. I and the District’s administration take these allegations seriously. When we learned about these allegations, the District immediately began an investigation.
“That investigation is currently ongoing. The District is taking swift and decisive steps to address the allegations. If the result of the investigation reveals any wrongdoing by the Girls’ basketball coaches, Duncanville ISD will immediately self-report those issues to the UIL and institute strong corrective action.”
Howard and David Peavy, the coach of the Duncanville boys’ basketball team, were both suspended for one year by the UIL in October 2022. It was claimed that Howard had committed recruiting and “school practice and game restrictions” violations, while Peavy had played an ineligible player, WFAA reported.
Both coaches were given three years of probation and a reprimand by the UIL. They were also reassigned to still-unknown positions by Duncanville ISD.
Athletic director Dwight Weaver was also reprimanded and reassigned to a campus administrator role, The Dallas Express previously reported. Duncanville ISD elevated assistant athletic director Kenya Larkin-Landers to interim athletic director in his place.
Neither Duncanville basketball team will participate in the state playoffs this season, and last year’s state championship has been vacated from the boys’ team.
Parents widely opposed the changes and penalties in the Duncanville program, as reflected in a statement to this effect posted to Twitter by Tarasha Holland, mother of Duncanville forward Ron Holland.
Both Duncanville teams lead District 11-6A and are ranked in ESPN’s High School Basketball Top 25 Rankings.
The Dallas Express reached out to Duncanville ISD and the Texas UIL but has yet to receive a response.