LENOIR CITY, Tenn. — Lenoir City High School said it removed its head football coach on Thursday, after learning about "unprofessional conduct."
It said Gary Dugger, 35, was removed from all teaching and coaching responsibilities at Lenoir City High School. According to a release, Mike Zeller will take over as the interim head coach for the 2023 football season.
It said due to a TSSAA dead period, it could not arrange a meeting with players on Thursday. However, it said a meeting would be held with coaches and players on July 10.
Additional information about that meeting, or information regarding Dugger's "unprofessional conduct," was not immediately available.
10News obtained Dugger's July 5 termination letter and a redacted version of his personnel file on Friday, which did not include specific details about his firing beyond being "due to unprofessional conduct."
According to a background check in his file, Dugger was charged with misdemeanor cyberstalking in March 2008 in Baker County, Fla. Other than that charge, Dugger's background check was clean.
Lenoir City Schools hired him in early 2022 as a PE teacher and coach. He taught at schools in Alabama and Florida before coming to Tennessee.
The high school's first game will be at home against South-Doyle High School on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m.