Wednesday, February 13th, 2019
Stokes reinstated by Minster
By Colin Foster
MINSTER - Minster Head Football Coach Geron Stokes has been fully reinstated by the school district.
After having been placed on paid administrative leave from his coaching and weight-room monitoring duties by district superintendent Brenda Boeke, Stokes has been cleared to return to his positions.
On Jan. 29, Stokes - who piloted Minster to state titles in 2014 and 2017 and also a state runner-up in 2016 - was notified he would be placed on administrative leave while the district looked into allegations about how he handled a situation, Boeke said.
When the investigation was completed, Boeke sent out letters to Minster's football parents that explained the decision.
"Following a thorough investigation, I determined that the allegations were not substantiated, and therefore, coach Stokes has been fully reinstated as head football coach and weight room monitor," Boeke said in an email on Tuesday.
Following the Jan. 29 announcement, Stokes received a mass of support from former players and students, parents and other coaches across various social media platforms.
In six years at Minster, Stokes has an overall record of 57-23, including a 17-3 mark in five straight playoff appearances. This past season, Minster went 8-4 and had its quest for a third straight state championship appearance stopped short with a 28-14 loss to Crestview in the Division VII regional semifinal.
