Andover Places Volleyball Coach On Administrative Leave

ANDOVER, MA -- Andover High School Athletic Director Bill Martin sent a letter to parents Friday explaining his decision to place boys volleyball coach E.J. Perry on administrative leave. Martin said school administrators had received "credible enough" complaints about Perry in his role as head boys volleyball coach at Andover High School. The leave does not impact Perry's role as head football coach or as a teacher at West Elementary School.

"Allegations were brought forward and found to be credible enough to prompt the administration to conduct an investigation into a number of coaching practices used by Coach Perry," Martin said in the letter according to the Eagle-Tribune, which first reported this story. "This investigation will be conducted in a timely manner and we will update you on the progress as often as possible."

Perry told the newspaper that he was in "total shock" and hadn't learned of the allegations or leave until Friday. He also recently stepped down head coach of the boys’ basketball team at Triton Regional in Byfield, a position he had accepted at the end of the just-concluded high school basketball season. Before accepting the position at Byfield, Perry had coached the Andover High School girls basketball team.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).