Westwood's Ashmon resigns as football coach, teacher

FORT PIERCE, Fla. - Embattled Fort Pierce Westwood football coach Waides Ashmon has resigned from both his coaching and teaching positions amidst a second investigation into his conduct last season.

Ashmon did not provide a reason for his resignation, which he submitted Friday morning in a two-sentence letter to St. Lucie County Schools assistant superintendent Sue Ranew.

He could not be reached for comment.

“He just wants to move on, that’s the goal,” teachers union vice president Vicki Rodriguez said.

Schools spokesperson Janice Karst would not comment on Ashmon’s resignation, nor would she elaborate on what prompted the latest investigation.

Last month, Ashmon was removed from his football and interim athletic director duties and temporarily reassigned to the school district’s payroll office after two former assistant coaches accused him of physically abusing two players at halftime of a December playoff game in Miami.

He was reinstated as coach May 26, after school superintendent Michael Lannon handed him a three-day unpaid suspension and ordered him to attend anger management classes. The district then offered him a contract to return for the 2010-11 school year.

The Florida International University police, which had jurisdiction over the investigation, did not find enough evidence to bring charges against him and closed the case.

New allegations of wrongdoing arose this week, leading to a second investigation by the school district.

Rodriguez, who represented the coach throughout this process, said the school district did not pressure Ashmon to resign. The two did not discuss his future plans.

“He loves his kids (on the team), but he has a family that he needs to be concerned with,” Rodriguez said.

Ashmon’s letter stated, “I would first like to thank (former principal) Dr. (Keith) Brown and St. Lucie County Schools for providing me with a wonderful experience as the head football coach/teacher at Fort Pierce Westwood High School. At this time, effective immediately June 25, 2010, I am resigning from my position as head football coach/teacher at Fort Pierce Westwood High School.”

Ashmon, who was preparing for his third season with the Panthers, submitted the letter less than an hour after the district sent out a press release announcing Treasure Coast football coach Bill Kelley had resigned for personal reasons. Ashmon and Kelley were named the 2009 Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers All-Area Football Co-Coaches of the Year after both teams finished 8-4 with a regional final appearance.

Ashmon guided Westwood to a district title and 10-2 finish in his first season in 2008.