Coach Kenny Lawler Still on Paid Leave After Six Months

Action has yet to be taken on the status of PCC Head Football Coach Kenny Lawler, six months after he was put on paid administrative leave on Sept. 19.According to school officials, the third-party investigation into his "policies and procedures" concluded in January, but further action regarding Lawler's status at the college is still unknown.

In Lawler's absence, the school promoted Assistant Coach James Kuk, to take over as acting head coach. At a Board of Trustees meeting on March 4, the college hired Kuk as "100 percent Temporary" instructor through June 19.

According to Pasadena Area Community College District's official academic salary schedule and the PCC Teacher's Association contract, Lawler's teaching salary during the fall and spring semesters, including his coaching salary, amounts to $7,994 a month. Lawler also had scheduled winter classes, which could have amounted to an estimated $11,067 extra.

Combined, he could have been paid an estimated $43,047 in the six months he has been on leave.

According to the salary schedule, Kuk is set to make $6,576 a month, during his time on campus under the temporary contract.

Interim Dean/Athletic Director Beverly Tate commented last on the topic in January and directed any further questions to Human Resources.

"Really nothing has changed, even though the investigation is completed. There has not been any decision made.

"At this point Kenneth Lawler is still on paid administrative leave and that's basically all I know at this point," Tate said in a phone message in January.

Lawler was put on leave after a 0-2 start this season and after it was discovered that Darryl "Slurp" Stephens, a member of the football team, was a registered sex offender and parolee, was arrested for assault on campus.

PCC administration has yet to give a specific reason for Lawler's leave and has sent mixed messages on the topic.

Vice President of Instruction Jacqueline Jacobs said in a prepared statement on Sept. 17 regarding the Stephens case, "Pasadena City College does not condone the recruitment of players who have a record of sexual offenses. This institution is conducting an investigation into this matter."

There is no school policy regarding the recruitment of sexual offenders, but Section 67362 of the state Education Code declares that any student athlete attending any public collegiate institution will be ineligible if they are still serving time on parole or probation for a conviction of various listed felony offenses once they have enrolled in college.

The section does not apply to Stephens, however, because the offense he committed occurred prior to his enrollment at PCC.

In fact, he previously played at Mt. San Antonio College in 2005, after the incident.

In a news conference with journalism students on Oct. 2, PCC President Paulette Perfumo said that the investigation regarded "COA (Commission on Athletics) policies and procedures."

This notion was challenged by COA Executive Director Carlyle Carter and Southern California Football Association (SCFA) Commissioner Jim Sartoris, who oversees PCC's football conference.

Both said in telephone interviews on Oct. 29 that there were no eligibility issues in COA or SCFA bylaws or constitutions regarding felons or registered sex offenders participating in community college athletics.