Hardeeville High's varsity girls basketball coach Greg Cox remains suspended indefinitely, according to Jasper County School District interim superintendent John Taylor.
Cox and Ridgeland coach Frederick Toomer were each recently suspended following a verbal altercation when the teams met in Hardeeville on Dec. 4. Toomer's suspension, which was for one game, was lifted after Ridgeland hosted Beaufort on Dec. 18.
Cox's suspension was indefinite because, as Taylor has stated, he doesn't "think the issue is completely resolved."
Taylor said it's possible he and Cox will meet this week, but he will "definitely" communicate with Cox.
Under the agreement of the suspension, Cox is not allowed to attend Hurricanes' girls games or be at practices.
Cox might have violated that agreement. The Hurricanes played three games at the Colleton County Christmas Tournament, Dec. 28-30, and Taylor was told Cox tried to attend the games that featured Hardeeville.
"It's a concern if it was true," Taylor said.
Colleton County High athletics director Leroy Riley said he has no knowledge of Cox's suspension and did not know if Cox was not allowed to attend the tournament. He said he attended the latter part of the tournament, but a few of the school's coaches supervised throughout the tournament.
According to Colleton County High administrative assistant Ricky Haynes, who handled admissions at the tournament, during the tournament he was made aware of Cox's suspension and decided to "have no controversy, we'll go ahead and deny (Cox) coming to the ball game."
Hardeeville athletics director Blake Raley said he did not tell Haynes to ban Cox from the tournament.
"I never told anybody not to let Cox in," said Raley, who sat on the Hurricanes' bench with assistant coach Tonya Strobridge. "Absolutely not."
Cox was turned away by Haynes on Dec. 28. According to Haynes, Cox "understood" why he was not allowed entry.
Allegedly, Cox was allowed to attend the Dec. 30 game, but Haynes said he was not at the admissions gate at the time Cox may have arrived and Cox's admittance is "hearsay."
Raley would not comment on the allegation that Cox was allowed admission on Dec. 30.
A message left on Cox's cell phone was not returned.
Taylor, who asked to be relieved of his full-time duties because of family health issues and will serve as interim superintendent on a daily basis until Jan. 15, is eager to see Cox's situation be resolved.
"It needs a resolution as soon as possible," he said.
As of Monday, Hardeeville (5-1), has a 3-1 record under Strobridge, who has coached in Cox's absence.
Taylor recently viewed the entire Dec. 4 game video, which was taken from mid-court, across from the teams' benches.
He has stated that the video helped clarify, validate and disprove some of what he had been told about the incident.