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Lebanon basketball coach resigns after police investigation

LEBANON, Ind. (WISH) — High school basketball in Lebanon has a deep and colorful history. The school has won three state championships, and scenes from the movie Hoosiers were shot in Memory Hall the old high school gym.  

But after a police investigation cleared girls basketball coach Nicholas Carothers of any criminal wrongdoing, his chapter with the program ended in his resignation.

Troy Terrill, whose daughter was coached by Carothers, told News 8 what he’d read in the police report that brought to light a different problem: accusations that he used offensive language around his team.

“We learned a little bit more information about some of the things that were being said, the vulgarity of some terms that (were) used, referencing girls’ body parts, things that adults shouldn’t even say,” said Terrill.

News 8 will not be publishing the language Carothers is accused of using in the presence of his teen players. 

“The bulk of this stuff that happened came to light at the end of the season. There was, we knew, the language was pretty intense and the culture of the program was pretty vulgar and not anywhere near anything teenage girls should be around,” said Terrill.

According to the school’s lawyer, the former coach had a one-year contract to coach and work as a special education instructional aide. According to the school website, he is still working in the classroom.

Terrill said he has prepared his daughter just in case any issues arise during school between her and the coach. 

“I have had very long detailed talks with my daughter as far if any contact is made she is immediately to come to her mother or i and let’s us know exactly what is going on” said Terrill.

News 8 reached out to Carothers for this story; those calls had not been returned on Monday.