Akron Public Schools has placed Buchtel High School athletic director and head football coach Bryan Williams on administrative leave, the district confirmed this week, leaving the Griffins under interim leadership for the final game of the regular season.
Williams did not coach last week, when host Buchtel earned a 14-6 overtime win against Garfield at Tim Flossie Stadium, and he is not set to be on the sidelines Saturday when Buchtel meets East in a Week 10 Akron City Series game at Kenmore Stadium. Tahj Dent has served as interim head coach and will continue in that role pending further notice.
Akron Public Schools assistant director of marketing and communications Joanne Isaac confirmed the move in a statement to the Akron Beacon Journal. As this is a personnel matter, the district said it will not comment further on the circumstances or details, adding that the district remains focused on supporting its students and maintaining normal team operations.
The leave follows a difficult stretch for the program’s record book. Buchtel enters Week 10 at 2-7 overall and 2-2 in the City Series after having to forfeit four wins last week, before the Garfield game was played.
The forfeits grew out of the district’s own reporting: Akron Public Schools self-reported to the Ohio High School Athletic Association that North and Buchtel had used academically ineligible players in games earlier this season. North’s win over Cleveland East Tech became a forfeit loss, Buchtel’s wins over Mentor Lake Catholic, Cleveland Heights Lutheran East and Firestone became forfeit losses, and the Buchtel win over North became a double forfeit because both teams had played ineligible players.
Williams did not return messages from the Beacon Journal seeking comment. The district has not given a timetable for resolving his status, and no replacement beyond Dent’s interim role has been announced.
Saturday’s finale is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Kenmore Stadium, an unusual morning kickoff for a Week 10 rivalry game. East and Buchtel close the City Series slate with the Griffins looking to end a turbulent two weeks — four forfeited wins, a coaching leave and an overtime win under an interim coach — on a second straight victory.
For Buchtel’s players, the immediate task is Saturday’s finale against East, a rivalry game that closes the regular season before the OHSAA playoffs are set. The Griffins will play it with their interim coach in charge for a second straight week.