Fairfield Coaching Staff Answers Questions from UIL State Executive Committee Concerning Alleged Video Recording by Westwood Head Coach and IT Tech
“I feel that the UIL ruling was fair,” states Fairfield Eagle Athletic Director, and head football coach, John Bachtel. “The kids did nothing wrong in the situation, so they should be able to play.”
On Monday, October 21, the District Executive Committee of District 9-3A Division I recommended that Palestine Westwood head football coach, Richard Bishop (below), be suspended for the remainder of the 2024 season., and varsity football team forfeit all district games (past and future) for the 2024 season.
Richard Bishop
It was also recommended that one of the school’s IT Techs, Donald McCoy, be banned from all district athletic events.
These recommendations stemmed from allegations of a Westwood staff member videotaping opposing teams’ signals while scouting the Fairfield vs Teague football game on Friday, October 11th, in Fairfield.
Texas UIL held an emergency meeting on Thursday morning, October 24, 2024, to consider the two recommendations.
In attendance were UIL Executive Committee members, District Committee members, Westwood coaching staff and Superintendent, Fairfield’s coaching staff, and others.
The committee first spoke with McCoy, who admitted to “videoing a few plays” that he claims he sent to his girlfriend in Virginia. He also claims that he did not intentionally record the coaches on the sideline.
Bishop answered questions about the Panthers moving their game from that Friday to Thursday. He stated that due to a shortage of officials, the game was moved, although he didn’t let the other members of the district know about the change; and claimed that he was sitting by McCoy at the Fairfield vs Teague game, but was not aware McCoy was recording.
During halftime, Bishop was contacted by Westwood Superintendent, Wade Stanford, who told Bishop that he had been called by Teague’s Superintendent and asked about his coaches videoing the game. Stanford told Bishop to “ensure that nothing of that nature is occurring.”
After the call from Stanford, Bishop told McCoy to get rid of the videos.
Next, the committee spoke to Coach Bachtel and other members of the Fairfield coaching staff. One of the coaches said they noticed the recording taking place during the second quarter and it “looked as though he was zooming in on our coaches.” A third coach claimed that McCoy was on his camera app recording, and not on Snapchat as he had previously stated.
District 9-3A D1 Executive Chair, Brian Bowman, who also serves as superintendent for Diboll ISD, said the new information he heard was even “more damaging,” and noted discrepancies in the testimony from the DEC meeting to this meeting.
He also stated it was “gross negligence” on Bishop’s part to not know what was going on. Bowman said the DEC made the recommendations they did because they believe Bishop should be held accountable.
After nearly two hours, the UIL State Executive Committee made their ruling.
Coach Bishop will be suspended for the remainder of the football season and is publicly reprimanded by being put on probation for the 2025-2026 school year.
McCoy is suspended from participating in UIL operations for the remainder of this school year.
The Panthers football team was granted the appeal against any forfeitures, past or future and will retain their overall record.
Westwood ISD has appointed Glen Tunstall to serve as the Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the season.
Fairfield will host Westwood this Friday evening at Eagle Field.
