The former football and golf coach at Rock Springs Middle School in Smyrna misappropriated more than $8,000 in school money, according an audit Tennessee Comptrollers released last week.
That former coach, Ryan Trotter, allegedly did this by failing to turn over some collections he received to the school bookkeeper for deposit into the school’s bank account, the audit said.
“Instead, he retained these funds for his personal benefit,” according to the audit.
“Investigators confirmed with parents and other individuals the amounts they paid to Trotter for football and golf activities.”
Among the Comptroller’s findings:
• During the period January 1, 2018, through October 31, 2018, Trotter misappropriated football player fees totaling at least $5,540, retaining the collections for his personal benefit. As football coach, Trotter had the sole responsibility to collect and record the player fees and to remit those fees to the school bookkeeper. Trotter failed to record the collected fees on the required collection forms he submitted to the bookkeeper, effectively concealing his misappropriation.
• During the period July 1, 2018, through October 31, 2018, Trotter misappropriated football fundraiser collections totaling at least $2,205, retaining the funds for his personal benefit. Trotter was solely responsible for collecting and recording the money received from the discount card fundraiser and remitting those funds to the school bookkeeper. Trotter failed to record these collections on the forms he submitted to the bookkeeper, effectively concealing his misappropriation.
• During the period July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018, Trotter misappropriated golf player fees totaling at least $300, retaining the fees for his personal benefit. Trotter had the sole responsibility to collect and record the player fees and to remit those funds to the school bookkeeper. Trotter failed to issue receipts for most of the cash collections.
• Trotter admitted to investigators that he retained football and golf collections without the knowledge of school officials and that he used these funds for his personal benefit. Trotter resigned from employment with Rutherford County Schools effective November 30, 2018.
The Rutherford County Grand Jury indicted Ryan Trotter on one count of Theft over $2,500 in December of last year, according to the audit.
Rock Springs Middle School is operated by the Rutherford County Board of Education. The school serves sixth through eighth grade students and has a student population averaging 1,050. The football and golf teams are among the extra-curricular athletic opportunities offered by the school. These teams are funded in part by activity fees and fund- raising activities, according to the audit.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
