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Cottonwood High coach accused of inappropriate contact with student

Posted at 5:49 PM, Apr 19, 2012
and last updated 2012-04-20 13:22:33-04

MURRAY -- Cottonwood High School head football coach Josh Lyman is on paid administrative leave after he was accused of inappropriately touching a female student on Thursday.

A criminal and administrative investigation on Lyman is underway. The Granite School District is conducting the administrative investigation.

Granite spokesman Ben Horsley says allegations are coming from multiple sources, including the student and her family.

"Mr. Lyman was brought down to district office yesterday (April 18) and placed on administrative leave and as soon as we have sufficient evidence to move forward with that type of action," said Horsley. "And at the same time he spoke with police officers and obviously they are pursuing [the] criminal aspect of it."

Horsley says the district is working to provide support for the alleged victim and her family.

"This type of allegation is so serious in its nature, it's one of the worse things that can happen to a family; it's one of the worse things that can happen to a school community," said Horsley. "It really undermines the great work that happening in so many of our classrooms across the district and across the nation everyday by great and caring professionals."

Horsley stresses that coach Lyman has not been fired and that allegations will be thoroughly investigated.

Lyman was hired as Cottonwood High's football coach two years ago following the sudden death of 41-year-old Teko Johnson, Cottonwood's former coach who was found dead in his Atlantic City hotel room.

Lyman, the former Utes wide receiver, led the Colts with a 5-5 record last year.