INDIANAPOLIS — Ben Davis has announced an interim boys basketball coach for the upcoming season as an investigation continues into assault allegations against the head coach.
The school announced Corey Taylor will coach the team in the 2023-24 season on an interim basis.
Head coach Don Carlisle has been on administrative leave since September after a 15-year-old student accused the coach, who also taught physical education, of hitting him Sept. 6. The student's mother said Carlisle punched her son in the mouth twice.
The student's mother, who did not want to be identified, told 13News that her son was changing shoes for gym class in the bleachers when Carlisle confronted him about not using the dressing room. She said Carlisle threw the boy's slider shoe across the gym floor. The boy allegedly told Carlisle that the teacher should go get it.
The mother said Carlisle then punched the boy in the mouth and pushed him up against the bleachers. She said her son grabbed Carlisle's necklace, defending himself. The mother said Carlisle then pushed the boy to the ground and punched him in the mouth again.
After the alleged assault was reported, 13News learned Carlisle had been teaching classes at Ben Davis for more than a year on an expired emergency permit. Indiana Department of Education records show that Carlisle’s emergency permit to teach physical education and health expired June 30, 2022.
In March, Carlisle led the Ben Davis Giants to a perfect 33-0 season and a state championship win over Kokomo.
His attorney said last month Carlisle was cooperating with authorities in their investigation.
According to school, Taylor is in his sixth season with the Giants, having served as an assistant coach on the varsity team last season. He previously coached for two seasons as an assistant at Noblesville High School.
"While the investigatory process regarding Coach Carlisle is ongoing, we respect the right to privacy and due process and will share more information when it becomes available," MSD of Wayne Township wrote in a release Monday night.
Ben Davis is scheduled to open the regular season Nov. 21 against Fishers.