No ‘criminal activity’ found in case of high school coach, former UK player, officer says

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office has an open investigation into claims of potential child abuse against a Scott County High School staff member, though the inquiry has “found no evidence of criminal activity” as of Friday, officials told the Herald-Leader.

The allegation was made by a student against a staff member, according to the sheriff’s office. Scott sheriff’s Lt. Robert Tackett on Friday told the Herald-Leader about the investigation after the Herald-Leader asked about an investigation into allegations that former University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball player Sean Woods, now the suspended Scott County boys’ basketball coach, had inappropriate conversations with students.

Investigators did not name Woods, but Woods was named in a letter provided to at least one Scott County parent by the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services regarding “substantiated” allegations of child abuse or neglect.

“The Scott County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by County Attorney Cam Culbertson and made aware there were allegations of child abuse made by a student at Scott County High School against a staff member of the school,” Tackett told the Herald-Leader in a statement. “We made contact with the school and Child Services. As part of our investigation, we sat in on interviews. We ultimately found no evidence of criminal activity. The status of the investigation remains open.”

Woods did not immediately respond to request for comment when reached by the Herald-Leader Friday afternoon.

Culbertson told the Herald-Leader through a staff member Friday that he had no comment.

The Scott County School District also hasn’t identified Woods, but confirmed to the Herald-Leader this week that an employee was placed on leave pending the “resolution of proceedings, including any appeals, with a Kentucky state agency.”

Tosha Williamson, the parent who received the letter from CHFS and shared it on social media, told the Herald-Leader Woods had been suspended.

Woods was hired to be the boys’ basketball coach last year. 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.

The school district said it conducted its own investigation, which ended Dec. 4.

At a Thursday night Scott County school board meeting, citizens in Scott County told the school board that Scott County Superintendent Billy Parker had provided inaccurate information to the public about the investigation.

This story was originally published March 27, 2026 at 4:39 PM.