Subpoena alleges former Poteau coach made ‘sexual deals’ in exchange for athlete play time
POTEAU, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA) — A subpoena filed against the Poteau Independent School District to turn over employment and disciplinary records on Greg Werner -- the one-time successful head football coach who abruptly resigned days before the 2024 season began -- reveals accusations of ‘sexual deals with player moms’.
Public records, dating as far back as August 12, 2024, indicate the Oklahoma State Board of Education has attempted to collect incident, investigative, discipline and personnel files, as well as any audio and video recordings concerning or related to Werner.
Included in a subpoena served to Poteau Schools by the board of education this past fall was a specific request for records concerning OSDE Case #23-0902. It references a narrative from either a current or past Poteau football player who alleges that Werner, in GroupMe messaging, would, “go into detail about sexual activities he wants to do with the player's mom and was bragging about how many other women/players mothers he had been with.”
The narrative continued, “Werner (coach/athletic director) has made sexual deals with player moms which was resulting in playing time for their sons.” The Case #23-0902 narrative also accused Werner of being caught, by players, engaging in sexual activity in the media room, the scoreboard room above the field, and the stadium press box.
A letter dated August 20, 2024, from the law firm Rosenstein, Fist and Ringold, representing Poteau Public Schools, responded that “it is the district’s intent to comply with your request”, but the letter continued by stating they are not aware of a state law or regulation requiring them to do so. The law firm affirmed they would send requested documents, but only after Werner signed a release with the district to do so or if they were to initiate a revocation proceeding against Werner along with a subpoena for records.
After multiple KNWA public records requests to Poteau Schools Superintendent Scott Kempenich, the school district eventually turned over limited employment documents, including a resignation letter from Werner dated August 26, six days after the law firm’s response to the board of education and just four days before football team’s first game of the season.
The board of education first confirmed for KNWA in September there was an active investigation into Werner and Poteau Public Schools. However, they have stated they are unable to comment further on a pending investigation.
When reached for comment for a KNWA report in September of this year, Superintendent Kempenich stated about Werner, “I thought he was very professional and did a good job as coach,” but would not comment further.
In a KNWA follow-up call to Kempenich on November 25, who answered the phone when reporter Doug Warner called the listed administrative number, the superintendent declined further comment. A voicemail and email to attorney Jana Burk with Rosenstein, Fist and Ringold were not returned by the end of the day.
Werner was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame in 2022 and won a 4A state title in 2019 with Poteau. He previously coached at Broken Bow, Okla. and Van Buren, Ark. High Schools.