Wesley Chapel boys basketball coach resigns

By JAMAL THALJI and STEVE LEE

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 23, 2000

WESLEY CHAPEL -- Conrad Foss, a fixture in east Pasco County youth sports, has resigned as head boys basketball coach at Wesley Chapel, days after his players were disciplined for misconduct during road games, including incidents of theft.

Saint Leo University announced Monday Foss accepted a job as assistant men's coach there. Foss officially resigned Wednesday.

Foss said he left for the opportunity to coach college basketball with the Division II Lions. He said the disciplinary action taken against his former players had no role in his decision to leave.

"Absolutely not," he said. "Those kids are great kids. My decision about going to Saint Leo is about where I want to go and what I want to do. I'm not leaving because of anything the kids did at Wesley Chapel."

Foss also disputed the severity of the incidents.

"Some of the rumors I heard I checked in on, and they are highly exaggerated," he said. "It's not accurate. I know for a fact it's not accurate."

When asked if Foss' resignation and the disciplinary actions were linked, Wesley Chapel principal Andy Frelick said, "I can't say."

He said the incidents came to light three weeks ago and he conducted an investigation. Frelick said student confidentiality rules prohibit him from identifying the players who were disciplined, the exact nature of their misconduct and the punishments. But he did say the incidents occurred during Wesley Chapel's road games, when the boys basketball season was under way. Frelick said an unspecified number of players were linked to incidents that occurred at high schools both in and out of Pasco County the team had visited.

"I was upset," Frelick said after concluding his investigation. "You teach people to make the right choices, and sometimes they don't."

He did not identify what items were taken.

"The items have been returned," Frelick said.

Frelick said no damage occurred to any of the schools in question, though he declined to identify which schools were victimized.

"The other schools weren't aware of anything until I told them," he said.

The incidents were not reported to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office and were handled as an internal school matter, Frelick said. He said the school district approved of his handling of the case, as did the other schools involved.

Last week, school officials confirmed that three basketball players, Spencer Honeycutt and brothers Chris and Kenny "Junior" Roberts, were barred from spring football practice for disciplinary reasons.

Frelick said all of the players involved would be welcomed back to Wesley Chapel's athletic program when the new school year begins in the fall.

"Pending they satisfy all of my requirements," he added.

No players could be reached for comment.

Saint Leo men's basketball coach Mike Hanks said Foss will be his top recruiter.

"We're really trying to cultivate and develop this area," he said. "And this just gives us an opportunity to do that."

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