2 Fort coaches arrested

FORT RECOVERY - Fort Recovery High School softball head coach Esther Stephen and Assistant Coach Shelby Hiestand were arrested recently by Jay County Sheriff's Office personnel in Indiana.

Sheriff's officials would not release any additional information by press time but said more details would be made available today.

District officials were informed late Tuesday afternoon of the arrests. Superintendent Larry Brown placed both coaches on immediate paid administrative leave pending further investigations by law enforcement. The administrative leave will be for an indefinite period, according to letters sent to the coaches.

Stephen and Hiestand also were directed to refrain from any contact and/or communications with district students, according to the documents. Both coaches are banned from district property without written permission from Brown.

Brown said to his knowledge no students were involved in the incidents leading to the arrests. Further discipline may be considered depending on the outcome of law enforcement investigations.

Stephen has been head softball coach at the school for two years and had received The Daily Standard's Coach of the Year award in 2019 for her role in helping the Indians return to winning ways after years of struggles.