The Paterson Public School District announced wide-ranging penalties to its athletics department Friday afternoon, including the suspensions of three district employees and the withdrawal of the Paterson Eastside High School girls basketball team from next week's state tournament.
Among those penalized are Eastside athletic supervisor Gregory Cooper, who has been suspended with pay; Eastside girls basketball coach Ray Lyde Jr., suspended with pay from his district teaching position and suspended without pay from his coaching job; and Eastside track coach Natalie Jordan, suspended with pay from her teaching position and suspended without pay from his coaching duties.
The district also placed Paterson Kennedy athletic supervisor Scott Durham in-charge of oversight of Eastside athletics for the remainder of the year, while New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association assistant director Larry White has agreed to provide professional development and guidance to the department.