Troup ISD Votes to Fire Football Coach Dennis Alexander

TROUP — The members of the Troup ISD school board voted unanimously on Friday morning to terminate Dennis Alexander as their head football coach and athletic director. KETK reports this was due to allegations of him slapping one of his players on the back of the head. Alexander was suspended in October amid an investigation. He later turned down an offer to resign. The Troup coach previously said he “tapped” a student on the back of the head and had never slapped a kid. School board members declined an interview request following the special meeting. A call to Superintendent Stuart Bird had not been returned at time of publication. Alexander said Friday afternoon he had no knowledge of the meeting and stated he believes he has the right to a hearing before he can be officially fired.

Coach Alexander is the fifth all-time winningest high school football coach in Texas. He is second winningest active coach in the state. Prior to making the move to Troup, Alexander also coached at Hughes Springs, Daingerfield, Henderson, and Harleton. He won two state championships during his tenure at Daingerfield. In February 2014, Alexander was inducted into the East Texas Coaches Association Hall of Honor.