Whites Creek boys basketball coach Carlton Battle placed on paid administrative leave
Michael Murphy
Whites Creek boys basketball coach Carlton Battle wasn’t present for the his team's Region 5-AA semifinal win over MLK on Tuesday, and there's no indication when he'll be returning to the Cobras' sidelines.
Battle, in his fourth season at Whites Creek, told The Tennessean on Wednesday that he has been placed on paid administrative leave pending a Metro Nashville Public Schools investigation.
Battle, the 2016 Tennessean Boys Basketball Coach of the Year who also serves as the school’s assistant principal, declined to comment further, but said that his leave was unrelated to Whites Creek assistant coach Kevin Moore’s Jan. 31 arrest.
Related:Whites Creek assistant basketball coach charged with kissing female student
Battle has been on leave since Feb. 20, according to Metro spokesperson Michelle Michaud, who added, "His return will be dependent upon the outcome of the investigation.”
Whites Creek assistant Leon Garlington has coached the Cobras in Battle’s absence.
Whites Creek (18-11), which clinched a third consecutive Class AA sectional appearance with Tuesday’s 83-70 win, play Stratford in Thursday’s 7 p.m. Region 5-AA championship game at East Nashville.
The Cobras will square off against either Fairview or Nolensville in Saturday’s 7 p.m. sectional.
Reach Michael Murphy at mfmurphy@tennessean.com, 615-259-8026, and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.