AKRON — North High School football coach DeMonte Powell has been placed on administrative leave, Akron Public Schools confirmed Saturday.
Chase Canfield, the district’s executive director of human resources, confirmed Powell’s leave status to the Akron Beacon Journal but declined to provide details, citing an active personnel matter. Powell, in his fourth season leading the Vikings, did not coach Saturday’s Akron City Series game against Garfield at Kenmore Stadium. Interim head coach Brandon Allison led the team in a 49-0 loss to Garfield.
Powell has compiled a 3-33 record with North over four seasons while working with small rosters each year. The Vikings are 1-6 this season after losses to Warren Champion, Cuyahoga Falls, St. Thomas Aquinas, Mogadore and Buchtel, with their lone victory an 8-6 win over Cleveland East Technical.
North has three games remaining on the schedule against East, Ellet and Firestone. When asked whether Powell is expected to return to the sideline this season, Canfield declined to comment. Powell and the district’s athletics coordinator also declined to comment.
