Boonville baseball changes coaches as parent alleges hazing

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boonville baseball has changed its head coach -- a move that came after a parent said her son was subject to hazing.

The Boonville School District said in a statement Thursday that coaching changes had been made due to "unforeseen circumstances." Fred Smith will serve as interim head coach, the statement said.

The statement did not mention what happened to head coach Greg Hough, who also coaches the Boonville Pirates football team. The district hired Hough in 2018.

The statement said the district would release no more information about what led to the coaching change. Superintendent Sarah Marriott reiterated that the district has no other statement when reached Thursday.

Requests to speak with Hough were forwarded to Marriott, who said Hough is not available for an interview.

A mother who spoke with ABC 17 News said her son had been subject to mistreatment by the coach that caused severe distress Monday, prompting a school investigation.

LINK: Watch an interview with Hough before last football season

The mother, Ashley Franklin, said Hough embarrassed her son, Jamal Franklin, at practice after he got in trouble at school over something Jamal posted to social media. Ashley Franklin said she has a meeting with Hough and other school officials Monday.

"He (Hough) pulls the picture (of the social media post) out. He had printed out the picture on a piece of paper. And, he goes around, walks around, shows it around to everybody. And he's like, 'Don't freck up like Jamal did. Jamal made a stupid mistake, it was stupid. I want you to learn from his mistakes,'" Jamal Franklin said Thursday.

Jamal Franklin told ABC 17 News that he was eventually brought to third base during practice and was told he was kicked off the team.

The Pirates play in a jamboree this weekend, according to the school statement.