News Summary

The Knoxville community is in shock as two football coaches from West High School face serious allegations of sexual abuse. Chad Brooks, 32, and Richard Shaver, 57, have been arrested on multiple charges, raising significant concerns about student safety. The investigations reveal disturbing details about inappropriate conduct involving minors aged 13 to 18. As the community grapples with these revelations, parents are calling for stricter safety measures in the school district to ensure the protection of students.

West High School Coaches Arrested on Serious Charges

In a shocking turn of events, the community of Knoxville is grappling with the news that two football coaches from West High School have been arrested and face serious allegations related to sexual abuse. The charges include crimes such as sexual battery and aggravated statutory rape, sending ripples through the local community and raising concerns about the safety of students.

The first coach, Chad Antwan Brooks, 32 years old, was an assistant football coach and also worked as a teacher at West High School. His troubles began on May 9 when he was taken into custody in Morristown and subsequently booked into the Knox County jail. A grand jury had already handed down an indictment against him on May 7, encompassing eight counts of aggravated statutory rape and eight counts of statutory rape by an authority figure. The incidents Brooks is allegedly involved in reportedly took place between January 2024 and March 2025, raising serious concerns about the welfare of students aged between 13 and 18.

Not far behind in the shocking revelations is Richard Scott Shaver, a 57-year-old nonfaculty football coach at the same school. He was arrested on May 23 in Sevier County after authorities sought public help to locate him. Like Brooks, Shaver faced significant charges; a grand jury indicted him on May 21 with four counts of sexual battery by an authority figure and two counts of attempted sexual battery. The accusations against him involve inappropriate touching of minors aged 13 to 18, indicating he also used his position of authority inappropriately. These incidents are believed to have occurred between August and November of last year.

The Knoxville Police Department spokesperson, Scott Erland, emphasized that these cases are separate and not related to each other. This point might provide a small measure of relief for parents and community members who are understandably upset and concerned about their children’s safety. A spokesperson for Knox County Schools, Carly Harrington, has declined to comment on how the school district investigated these issues, leaving many wondering about the oversight and safety measures in place for students.

Chad Brooks began his teaching career at West High School on August 4, 2022, but his background shows that he had previously worked as an educational assistant from July 2017 to May 2019. In light of the allegations, he was placed on paid administrative leave starting April 3 and was informed that his contract for the next academic year would not be renewed.

Meanwhile, Richard Shaver took a different route; he resigned from his role at West High School on May 16, just days before being arrested. Prior to his apprehension, Shaver was believed to be evading law enforcement, reportedly on the run with his wife in the scenic areas of Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge.

The community is buzzing with talks and whispers about what could have happened, and how such behavior could go unnoticed for so long. Parents and educators alike are calling for a closer look at the procedures and policies in place to protect students, emphasizing that the safety of children must always come first. As the investigation continues, the focus will likely shift towards better safeguarding measures within the school’s athletic departments and perhaps throughout the entire school district.

The unfolding story of these two coaches serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance when it comes to the safety of children and teens in educational environments. While details continue to emerge, the hope is for clarity and enhanced security measures to prevent such incidents from happening again.

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