Former UK standout, Scott County basketball coach faces abuse or neglect allegation

An employee at Scott County High School has been placed on leave while a state agency looks into “allegations” made against them, the Scott County School District confirmed Tuesday.

The district did not immediately tell the Herald-Leader who the employee was, but a Scott County parent on Tuesday said it was boys’ basketball coach Sean Woods. The same parent, Tosha Williamson, had shared a letter to Facebook Monday from the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services that showed allegations of child abuse or neglect against Woods had been “substantiated.”

“An employee at Scott County High School has been placed on leave pending resolution of proceedings, including any appeals, with a Kentucky state agency,” said Renee Holmes, a spokesperson for the Scott County School District.

The employee “will not be returning for the 2026-2027 school year,” Holmes said.

Holmes made the statement to the Herald-Leader after being asked about the letter Williamson shared.

Woods, who was a member of the University of Kentucky’s “Unforgettables” basketball team in 1992, was named head coach of the Scott County team in April 2025.

Scott County went 14-14 in Woods’ first season, ending a run of five straight losing seasons since its 11th Region title win in 2020. The Cardinals were eliminated this postseason in the 42nd District Tournament’s first round by Sayre.

Woods previously coached at Morehead State University, where he led the team for five seasons before being suspended and later resigning after an investigation into alleged abuse against players.

Woods did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment.

Holmes said in her statement that allegations against an employee were made in November 2025, and Scott County schools took several steps “to ensure student safety,” including promptly notifying state agencies, informing local law enforcement and completing a “thorough, comprehensive investigative review.”

The investigation conducted by Scott County Schools closed on Dec. 4, 2025, Holmes said. A state agency did its own investigation on a different timeline, though Holmes didn’t say which state agency that was. Holmes said the school district complied with all requests in a timely manner.

Williamson had spoken at a December Scott County school board meeting about inappropriate comments she said a school employee had made to a student. During that meeting, she did not name the employee.

Willamson told the Herald-Leader Tuesday that the “substantiated” allegation was “related to an inappropriate conversation that took place between Coach Sean Woods and a student during the school day in a classroom setting.”

Cabinet spokesperson Beth Fisher told the Herald-Leader Tuesday afternoon, “Team Kentucky is committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of everyone across the commonwealth and treats any allegation of abuse with the highest level of seriousness and urgency.”

Fisher said state law prohibits the Cabinet for Health and Family Services from disclosing the report of suspected child abuse, neglect, or dependency and any information the cabinet obtains in an investigation except to individuals or entities specifically identified in the statute, which does not include media organizations.

This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 12:33 PM.