School district police probably will recommend charges against coach

The Clark County School District police will probably recommend criminal charges against a former Coronado High School varsity football coach who was responsible for more than $10,000 in missing student-generated money, a district police spokesman said Tuesday.

Lt. Ken Young did not disclose the charges John Mannion could face, but he said the police investigation should conclude in the next several weeks. Police will recommend charges to the Clark County district attorney's office, which would decide which counts to prosecute.

"The process is, we do the report. We present our findings. We recommend charges," Young said. "Our whole goal is to present charges."

Mannion, 50, has been the focus of the investigation into missing funds raised by students in the Coronado football program, he said.

Meanwhile, district spokesman Michael Rodriguez confirmed this week that Mannion hadn't been employed with the school system since May 8.

Rodriguez said he didn't know whether Mannion was fired or he resigned, saying that information is confidential under district regulations.

"We have no details on that," Rodriguez said. "We just know he's not an employee."

In addition to coaching varsity football, Mannion taught weightlifting at the school.

A district audit released last month concluded that at least $10,325 raised by students under Mannion's supervision was unaccounted for. The audit, which did not identify Mannion by name, said the varsity football coach did not follow protocols for documenting funds and turning them over to a school banker.

The audit determined there was a lack of proper accounting. It also concluded more money could be missing.

"Due to the significant lack of internal controls, we cannot rule out the possibility that other funds may have been collected that were not receipted or deposited into the school commercial bank," the audit said. The audit probed the football program's finances from July to February.

Though the audit placed the amount missing at a minimum of $10,325, district sources said more than $20,000 is unaccounted for.

The audit disclosed that money collected had not been secured in the school safe.

"Funds were maintained in bank bags, one of which was maintained in the varsity coach's desk and the other in a wardrobe closet," the audit said. "The bank bag that was supposed to be maintained in the coach's desk was misplaced and later discovered behind a filing cabinet. The bank bag that was maintained in the wardrobe closet is currently unaccounted for."

Mannion told the Review-Journal in March that roughly $6,000 had been stolen from the football office in late August. He said that he had held money for weeks at a time because the school's banker was not on campus when he was.

"I'll be the first to say I shouldn't have had it for that long," Mannion said.

Mannion's parents are longtime district veterans John and Terry Mannion. Mannion Middle School was named in their honor. The middle school's Web site credits them with a total of 62 years of service in a range of capacities, including coach, teacher, dean, assistant principal and assistant superintendent.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.