Deion Sanders fired from school he co-founded after alleged assault
Deion Sanders was fired from his position as head football coach at Prime Prep Academy in Dallas on Friday in the wake of an assault investigation. The most intriguing aspect of the fluid situation is that Prime Prep Academy was named after Sanders and his nickname “Prime Time.” The Hall of Fame defensive back is one of the school’s co-founders.
Dallas Police have been investigating an alleged incident that took place during a faculty meeting at the school on Wednesday afternoon. The Dallas Morning News originally reported that Kevin Jefferson, Prime Prep Academy’s chief financial officer, claims Sanders assaulted him during the meeting when Deion became upset that some of the school’s student athletes are not doing well in class.
“He walked back to the back of the classroom to where I was sitting in a desk,” Jefferson told Tanya Eiserer of the Dallas Morning News. “As he got closer to me, I stood up because he was kind of standing over me and he just kind of kept talking to me and at me and then he just grabbed me by my throat and kind of threw me to the ground. Some people had to get him off of me.”
Prime Prep Academy released a statement on Friday announcing that Sanders is no longer an employee or representative of the school, effective immediately. Sanders admitted that he is upset with the way the school is being run but denied making physical contact with Jefferson.
“Mr. Jefferson was not beat down,” Sanders said in a phone interview with WFAA TV. “He was not beat up. He was not hit. He was none of that. Mr. Jefferson and I got into a confrontation about the welfare of these kids. And we’ll get into another one. Until you start taking care of these kids, I’m going to be on a rampage. Until we start serving these kids in Dallas like the kids are served in Fort Worth, and better, I’m going to be on the same rampage, because the teachers are frustrated. We’re frustrated.”
Sanders also took to Twitter to deny the allegations:
I won't sit&witness my PrimePrep kids receive 2nds when they deserve the BEST EDUCATION!There was NO assault but a definite confrontation.
— DeionSanders (@DeionSanders) October 10, 2013
The Person claiming assault is a fake administrator whom does absolutely nothing to help the school,kids or teachers reach our goals. Truth
— DeionSanders (@DeionSanders) October 10, 2013
All Media please ask ANY Student or Teacher at PrimePrep Dallas campus grades 6-12 who I am and what im about! Then report that Live. Truth
— DeionSanders (@DeionSanders) October 10, 2013
Police are still investigating the incident, but as of now the school has decided it is best to cut ties with Sanders. That could change depending on the outcome of the investigation.
H/T SI Wire
