Second Larkin coach suspended over certification issue

First-year Larkin High School boys basketball coach Deryn Carter has been sidelined pending a ruling from the Illinois High School Association concerning his certification status.

Carter becomes the second Larkin coach in the past week forced to the sidelines over the certification issue. Head varsity girls basketball coach Alphonso Lott was suspended last Friday over the same issue.

Individuals who are not teachers or do not hold a teaching certificate in the state of Illinois are required by the IHSA to complete coaching certification courses in coaching principles, first aid and IHSA bylaws.

Carter, who works at Larkin but does not hold a teaching certificate, completed the coaching principles class in August and the first aid course in September but did not complete the IHSA bylaws test.

And that's where Carter's situation takes a twist. According to Carter, when he received his packet of testing information from the American Sport Education Program, he was only sent the coaching principles test and the first aid test. Carter said his packet did not include the IHSA bylaws test.

"There was a glitch in the ASEP system and when I took the two tests I wasn't aware there was a third test," said Carter on Friday. "Up until the story (on Lott) broke I wasn't aware I needed the third test."

Carter did complete the IHSA bylaws test on Feb. 8 and is now fully certified but Larkin is awaiting word from the IHSA concerning his status. Until that word comes, Carter won't be allowed to coach the Royals.

ASEP Assistant Executive Director Jerry Reader would neither confirm nor deny Carter's claim.

"I can't verify that it did or didn't happen," Reader said, just after a receptionist acknowledged that there had been a 'packaging error' last fall.

"I spoke with coach Carter and he's going to send me some information, but until I receive the information I can't make a determination of what he did and didn't receive," Reader said.

ASEP, which is used by schools nationwide, is based in Springfield, Ill.

IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman was at the state girls bowling tournament in Rockford Friday and not immediately available for comment. But Assistant Executive Director Kurt Gibson, the state's boys basketball administrator, acknowledged the IHSA was awaiting information from Larkin to further assess the situation. Gibson also stressed any action would come directly from Hickman.

"We had asked the school to submit some information and to my knowledge we're still waiting for that information," Gibson said. "The earliest anyone would be allowed to be involved with the (Larkin) program is when we get that information.

"But," Gibson continued, "you can't escape the fact that a couple of coaches were being allowed to coach while not being certified."

Carter, a Larkin graduate who coached at the University of Missouri-St. Louis the past six years, didn't cast blame on anyone but himself.

"I've been suspended indefinitely," he said, acknowledging that assistant coach Steve Knapp is now running the team. "The fact of the matter is I wasn't certified and I coached. It's my name on it and I'll own up to it. But had I known I needed the third test I would have done it."

Larkin Principal Jon Tuin stressed there was no intent on anyone's part to knowingly break the rules.

"I feel badly," Tuin said late Friday afternoon. "I feel badly for Deryn and I feel badly for the students. I know there wasn't any intent to pull a fast one. As soon as we found out about it we were then trying to do things legally. We just didn't know.

"The coaches thought they were certified and (athletic director) John (Young) thought they were certified and I trusted that they were. Who loses here is the kids and the coaches. We'll follow the rules and we're committed to following the rules and moving forward."

Tuin also expressed his faith in Carter.

"Deryn is a quality stand-up guy," Tuin said. "The guys on his team are held accountable for the rules and he expects people to follow the rules. If anyone goes above and beyond to follow the rules it's Deryn. I feel badly for Deryn and the students."

The Royals are scheduled to play next at 1 p.m. Saturday at Streamwood.

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