Monrovia High School athletic director Randy Bell refuted a story published Thursday in the Star-News that reported the school hired Michael Knowles as an assistant track and field coach.

Knowles was fired almost three months ago as Muir’s track and field coach after serving as coach in some capacity or another for 28 years, including the last 10 as girls head coach and six as the boys head coach.

Muir’s administration did not give Knowles specifics for his dismissal, nor has the Pasadena Unified School District.

According to Knowles, he was to be Monrovia’s sprints, hurdles and relays coach.

“He’s a respected track coach,” Bell said. “If he’s someone that’s interested in coaching here, we would explore that possibility.

“Our (track) coach (Randy Hare) and Knowles have talked, but nothing has been determined. (Knowles) is a heck of a coach that we would be interested in, but we have to make reference calls and go through the process.”

Knowles said he had a coaches meeting with Hare on Monday and acknowledged he still needed to take a TB test, fingerprints and have his CPR first aid paperwork current.

“I was under the assumption (Hare) had spoken to (Bell),” Knowles said. “If I was wrong, I’m sorry.”

When Bell read the story Thursday, he asked Hare to clarify.

“Obviously the first person I went to was (Hare),” Bell said. “I asked him if he talked to the (Star-News) but (Hare) said, ‘At no time did I talk to Miguel Melendez.’

“I asked (Hare) if it was his desire to bring (Knowles) on board and (Hare) said yes, but (Knowles) still has to come in for the normal hiring process which goes for paid or unpaid coaches.”