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Bowie coach Cox cleared of assault
By Olin Buchanan
Austin American-Statesman
Posted: Nov. 5, 1999
Bowie head football coach Tommy Cox, who had been placed on off-campus suspension since a parent filed an assault charge against him on Oct. 24, passed a polygraph test Thursday and was reinstated to resume his duties as head coach, athletic coordinator and physical education teacher. According to an Austin Independent School District campus police department daily log for Oct. 24, a parent, Susan Strobel, claimed Cox shoved her out of his office after they had a conversation about her son's lack of playing time. Bowie High School Principal Kent Ewing said an investigation provided no evidence to support that charge. "Our (campus) police department did a complete and thorough investigation and interviewed everyone they could find to interview and wrote it up and felt there was no just cause for action," Ewing said. "Tommy recommended he take a lie detector test. They (police) accommodated him. He took a lie detector test and passed with flying colors. Based on the report and that test the school district felt there was nothing to do but reinstate him to his position. That was the appropriate thing." Efforts to reach Strobel Thursday afternoon were unsuccessful. Ewing said the campus police interviewed other Bowie faculty members who witnessed the conversion. He also said there was an outpouring of support for Cox at a parent meeting with area superintendent Dr. Ruth Kane at Bowie High School last Monday night. "He's had tremendous support from everyone involved," Ewing said. "The students, faculty and parents rallied the wagons in support of Tommy." Cox had no comment, but his attorney, Jay Brim, said he was confident the coach would be cleared. "The mom filed a written statement. In the statement she gives a pretty full description of what happened in the meeting," Brim said. "Although she didn't say it in the statement, she was upset when Tommy told her he had to report her son for some misbehavior. After he told her he would report her son, she got upset, and Tommy asked her to leave his office. There was other personnel there that heard the conversation. "The mother accused him of shoving her out the door. Tommy absolutely denies even touching her. After the polygraph test today the school district reinstated him." Ewing said he hopes the incident is over and the attention will return to the football team. Bowie, which is 3-6 this season, plays Austin High tonight at Burger Stadium. Bowie would qualify for the playoffs if it wins. "We just need to focus on winning the football game and making the playoffs," Ewing said.