Markham placed on administrative leave

Recently hired Rialto High School football coach Don Markham has been placed on administrative leave by the Rialto Unified School District after allegations were levied against him according to RUSD Director of Communications Syeda Jafri.

Jafri indicated that Markham, who has won 309 games and five CIF championships in his illustrious high school coaching career, was suspended Tuesday after the allegations were filed to the school district’s offices.

“Mr. Markham has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the upcoming investigation by the school district,” Jafri said. “We take all allegations seriously and we believe in due process for both the accuser and accused.”

Jafri didn’t specify on the length of the investigation or the nature of the allegations, but did say that Markham was prohibited from stepping foot on the Rialto campus during the investigation. Because Markham is a walk-on coach employed within the Colton Unified School District, his leave will be of the unpaid variety according to Jafri.

“(Markham) is a walk-on coach until July 1, so that makes the administrative leave unpaid instead of paid,” Jafri said.

Markham’s leave comes at a bad time for Rialto, as spring football is set to start next month.

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