DENMARK -- The Bamberg County School District 2 Board of Trustees accepted the resignation of Denmark-Olar High School head football coach Andrae Rice Monday night during its regular December meeting.

Specifics of Rice’s departure were not made public, but the coach on Tuesday cited family issues in the decision.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Timmons, a spokesman with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, says the agency is investigating alleged misconduct by a school district employee at the request of the Denmark Police Department, which received a complaint on Nov. 30. She would not provide a name because there have been no arrests but one Denmark trustee reportedly confirmed after the Monday meeting that Rice resigned amid controversy over “improper communication.”

Following a 30-minute executive session to discuss a personnel matter, the board unanimously approved the recommendation of Superintendent Dr. Secaida Howell to accept the resignation of a male district employee, identified only by the initials L.G. “according to the bulleted points on the handout.”

Trustee Ann Causby asked Howell, “Has he been notified that this action would be taking place tonight?” Howell replied that the employee had been so notified and that his last day on the job was Friday.

On Tuesday Board Chairman Alvin Maynor said Rice had tendered his resignation on Monday, adding that the district’s human resources director, Michelle Nimmons, would handle filling the vacancy.

Rice, a Denmark-Olar High School graduate, debuted as Viking head football coach in August 2007 after being hired away from Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, where he was the offensive coordinator. Rice took over from former D-O head coach Willie “Tony” Felder, who was fired after it was determined he had allowed ineligible players to suit up. That action led to the Vikings being stripped of their victories that year.

After earning a degree in physical education and psychology from Fayetteville State University, Rice stayed at the North Carolina school to serve as a junior varsity football assistant athletics’ director. He later joined then-Fairfield Central head coach Reggie Kennedy’s staff as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. Rice also served as boys’ basketball coach for five years at the Fairfield County school.

Rice said, “I gave my resignation yesterday (Monday) and that was my last official day. I resigned because some family concerns I have made it tough for me to do my job. I have to get some things settled with that situation and I’ll take some time off.”

Rice added he did not have any immediate employment plans.

Howell could not be reached for comment despite several attempts Tuesday to contact him by phone.

n T&D Staff Writer Phil Sarata can be reached at psarata@timesanddemocrat.com and 803-533-5540. Comment on this and other stories at www.TheTandD.com.

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