School District puts Coronado coach on paid leave

By Ray Brewer (contact), Jean Reid Norman

Thursday, April 2, 2009 | 5:55 p.m.

Coronado High School football coach John Mannion was placed on paid leave today by the Clark County School District.

Spokesman Michael Rodriquez said it is against district policy to discuss why an employee is placed on leave. The leave is for an indefinite period of time, he said.

“The only thing we are saying right now is that we are investigating a financial case at Coronado,” said Clark County School District Police Lt. Ken Young.

Mannion declined to comment.

The investigation followed a scheduled internal school district audit, which looked at deposits and disbursements for athletic activities and clubs at the school, said Pat Skorkowsky, the Southeast Region Assistant Superintendent.

The mid-February audit alerted school police to potential discrepancies, Skorkowsky said. The last audit occurred in June 2006.

“There were some unpaid invoices and that brought about the audit,” Skorkowsky said. The invoices were for athletic equipment and jerseys.

Rodriguez said there is an ongoing investigation but could not comment further because it is a personnel matter.

He said Mannion has worked in the district since 1991. Calls left for Coronado Principal Lee Koelliker and Athletic Administrator Sam Johnson this week were not returned.