UIL’s Palestine Westwood Verdict – Coach Suspended, No Forfeits

On Monday, October 21, the District Executive Committee of District 9-3A Division I recommended that Palestine Westwood head football coach Richard Bishop be suspended for the remainder of the 2024 season.

In addition, the committee recommended that the Palestine Westwood varsity football team forfeit all district games (past and future) for the 2024 season.

This is the result of allegations of a Palestine Westwood staff member videotaping opponents' signals while scouting a Teague vs Fairfield football game.

The Texas University Interscholastic League held an emergency executive committee meeting on Thursday morning to consider these recommendations.

Two agenda items were on the program:

1. Palestine Westwood High School: Referral from District 9-3A Division I Executive Committee Regarding Violations of Section 51(b)(1), School District Personnel Violations, Section 1208(l), Videotaping and Filming and Section 52(b), School Violations

1. Richard Bishop
2. Don McCoy
3. Palestine Westwood High School

2. Palestine Westwood High School: Appeal of District 9-3A Division I Executive Committee Decision Regarding Section 29(b)(3)(C), Forfeiture of Contests

The Decision of the UIL Executive Committee

After over an hour of testimony and questions involving UIL Executive Committee members, Westwood coaching staff and the superintendent, district committee members, Fairfield coaching staff, and others, the following decisions were given:

• Head Coach Richard Bishop has been suspended from coaching activities for the remainder of the football season. He will also be on probation for the following football season (2025-26).
• Don McCoy is also suspended from participating in UIL operations for the remainder of the school year.
• Palestine Westwood was granted the appeal against any forfeitures, past or future. Westwood will retain their 7-0 overall record and 2-0 district record. The Panthers are ranked #6 in the state in Class 3A - Division I.

You can skip forward to the 2-hour and 9-minute mark of the video for the proceedings.