Head Football Coach Lawler Placed on Leave

PCC's head football coach Kenny Lawler was put on paid administrative leave by the school on Sept. 19 according a press release submitted to reporters by the PCC athletic department prior to Saturday's game against East Los Angeles College.Under Lawler, the Lancers started the 2007 season with five consecutive victories, but then dropped four of the final five games to finish 6-4 overall and a disappointing 1-4 in conference.

Lawler's 2008 team started with a 46-20 walloping by rival Mt. San Antonio College followed by a 42-34 loss to El Camino-Compton Center.

Against East L.A. the Lancers were led by interim head coach James Kuk. Under Kuk, the Lancers beat East L.A. 40-12 at Weingart Stadium in Monterey Park.

The schools decision comes after numerous incidents involving PCC football players.

On Sept. 11, the Courier reported that Darryl "Slurp" Stephens, a registered sex offender who was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, Morgan Sheppard was also a wide receiver/tight end on the football team. Further investigation revealed Stephen's had been previously arrested for "assault to commit a specific sex crime," and was wearing a GPS high-risk sex offender bracelet at the time of his arrest on campus.

Lawler told the Courier after the arrest that he knew of Stephens' past.

"He was a student athlete trying to rebuild and rehabilitate his life and football was a part of that. He had been a model citizen since he'd been here," Lawler said.

A week later, campus police were called to break up a verbal fight under the bridge that connects the R and C buildings. According to PCC campus police Lt. Brad Young, "A couple of football players [were] arguing over [the Sept. 6] game." No punches were thrown.

Additional reporting by Jeremy Balan