Templce City coach’s status uncertain after incident with student

By Miguel A. Melendez
Staff Writer

TEMPLE CITY – Temple City High School head varsity football coach Randy Backus missed Friday’s Rio Hondo League game against La Canada, and his status for this week’s playoff opener is uncertain following an alleged incident involving a student.

Reached by phone Monday, Backus declined to elaborate.

“It’s all speculation at this point as to what happened – if anything happened,” said Backus.

Temple City High Athletic Director John Van De Veere declined to discuss the incident. He said Backus is on personal leave.

“We won’t know anything until Friday morning from the board of education,” Van De Veere said.

The district’s school board is scheduled to meet Wednesday for its regular meeting, according to the district’s Web site.

“Due to student and employee confidentiality we cannot comment in response to your call,” district spokeswoman Lynne Burkhardt responded to a reporter.

Temple City will open the CIF-Southern Section Mid-Valley Division playoffs Friday against Arroyo.

There was no immediate word Monday from officials whether a replacement will be named for Backus in the interim.

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