Longtime Texas HS coach resigns after investigation reveals 'racially insensitive' remarks

Alvin High School head coach Tim Tekyl has resigned from his post following an investigation into alleged "racially insensitive" remarks the coach made to a player before a recent game.

The incident at the heart of the situation is the most recent example of issues that permeated across culture came to a head on a high school football sideline -- public demonstration of support for a chosen social cause, and kneeling for the national anthem.

Here's how the Houston Chronicle described it:

Leon Bell, formerly a senior on the team, said he wanted to wear a Black Lives Matter mask that was given to him by his parents but was not permitted to do so by Teykl.

Teykl is accused of saying his players don’t represent the NFL and that he doesn’t want players taking a knee during the national anthem because he wants to be “classy.” The Bells say Teykl also used a string of racially charged words when he said he had “no problems with Black Lives Matter” and minorities. The comments were met with laughter by the team, the family said.

The situation is the inverse of one that played out before an Ohio high school game. There, players were suspended for carrying Blue Lives Matter flags onto the field despite being told not to by the school's administration. The suspension was later lifted, and the players were praised by the President.

“Alvin ISD does not tolerate the use of divisive language from any staff member, or from any member of our school community,” superintendent Carol Nelson said in a statement, released Wednesday. “Throughout this process, we will work with our families and the community to respond to this matter appropriately and to ensure we collectively support, embrace and celebrate the diversity of our district.”

Prior to releasing that statement, the Bell family enlisted a local chapter of the NAACP to meet with the school district, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Tekyl is an institution on the Houston high school football scene. He won 160 games in 26 seasons as the head coach at B.F. Terry High School in nearby Rosenberg before serving as Major Applewhite's director of high school relations at the University of Houston from 2017-18. He served in leadership roles for the Texas High School Coaches Association and the Greater Houston Football Coaches Association.

The 2020 season was to be Tekyl's second at Alvin. Chad Strban will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

As always, stay tuned to High School Scoop for the latest.