Coach Fox reported to Norwalk police

NORWALK — The Norwalk City Schools Board of Education has reported the actions of head football coach Todd Fox to the Norwalk Police Department. Here is a statement released by the board following Tuesday's meeting: "The board was briefed by Flannery Georgalis, LLC regarding the investigation into allegations of Mr. Fox regarding the football program, as well as the Administration's handling of the investigation. Based on the investigation, the district has reported Mr. Fox's conduct to the Norwalk Police Department and will be reporting the results of the investigation to the Ohio Department of Education. "In addition the board has asked its counsel to contact Mr. Fox's counsel regarding his resignation. In light of the investigation the district will be reviewing it's policies and procedures." At the start of his fifth season as football coach, it is alleged that Fox "failed to report inappropriate behavior between members of the football team that occurred on the football field in June 2022," according to a statement released by Superintendent Brad Cooley. Fox was placed on administrative leave on Sept. 23 — the morning of a home football game vs. Bellevue — following several allegations of inappropriate behavior among players on his team. Two specific incidents have been referenced by parents and school staff. One alleged incident in June involved some type of inappropriate behavior among football players during a "sleepover" at Contractors Stadium. Exactly what happened there has not been disclosed by the school district. More is known about a second incident on Aug. 10 in the football players' locker room. A Norwalk police report stated that two players restrained a third player while another rubbed a sex toy on the player. Amanda Kessler, of Norwalk, spoke up at Tuesday's meeting and asked about the future of Fox. "I want to address because obviously the athletic director (Josh Schlotterer), (principal Patrick) Kania and the assistant principal (Adam Kreischer) are not here. I want them to look back and see how they feel about themselves ... how they treated our boys. "I want to know if they feel better about themselves, calling them liars, bullying them. Going out of their way to ruin boys' lives just to make themselves feel better." She talked about what Schlotterer said to the players after telling them Fox has been suspended. "He said 'I love you guys.' He doesn't love them," Kessler said. "The principal doesn't love them. The assistant principal doesn't love them, Cooley doesn't love them. You know who loves them? Their coaches. The coaches know them better than anybody else. They have been with them the last six years. They know their character. They know their heart. "I want everybody to know what this administration did, whatever happens with this investigation, was wrong. The way they did this is wrong."