Overton Schools Director To Reconsider Riddle Situation

The director of the Overton County Schools will reconsider Leslie Riddle’s termination as Livingston Academy girls basketball coach.

Dr. Mark Winningham said he would consider reinstatement as he addressed parents, former players, and community members who gathered Tuesday night at the monthly school board member.

“What you all have shared tonight, I promise you I will consider it,” Winningham said. “I promise. Before the week’s over.”

Several in the audience wanted the school board to reinstate Riddle at the meeting. The board could not do so because personnel matters are solely the responsibility of the director. Votes also cannot be taken on issues not on the agenda. The board did take a poll of its members as to whether they would support Winningham’s decision.

Brett Knight told the board it had the responsibility to investigate Riddle’s situation.

“Those are all primary duties of this school board,” Knight said. “You’ve delegated those to your director. However, that does not mean you’ve given up your primary authority. By law, you have to.”

“If he decides to reinstate her, I will support him 100 percent,” Board Member Mike Sullivan said. “If he decides not to, I will support him 100 percent. Make no mistake.”

The meeting was contentious as audience members tried to make their voices heard. On several occasions, board chairman Howard Miller tried to adjourn the meeting. He could not get the vote taken.

“Overton County is better than this,” Former Tennessee Tech Womens Basketball Coach Bill Worrell said. “There is not a sorrier decision being made in the state of Tennessee tonight than this one. I’m here tonight because of Leslie. This is sad. Decisions like this do not belong in the state of Tennessee. Correct your decision.”

Several audience members expressed concern about how the decision about Riddle was communicated. They pressed the school board members for answers on whether they knew about her removal as coach before the decision was made.

Sullivan said he did not like some of the things that happened in the aftermath of the announcement.

“I do not like to be threatened,” Sullivan said.

Riddle became the winningest coach in Livingston Academy history this season. Her teams, however, have struggled through three losing seasons including a 14-16 mark in 2020.