The investigation into Keller’s state championship swimming and diving program for alleged rule violations ended with the 4-6A district executive committee issuing a reprimand and unanimously accepting Keller ISD’s action plan that includes increased oversight of workouts, additional training on UIL rules and hiring a new coach.
Keller will keep the Class 6A boys and girls team state titles that it won in February after the district conducted its investigation and presented its recommendation to the DEC. Keller ISD said it considers the case to be closed.
Jason Lovell, who had been the head coach at Keller Central, has been named the new Keller coach. Mike Row was promoted from assistant to head coach at Keller Central.
The UIL told The Dallas Morning News last month that the alleged rule violations were related to Section 1202 of the UIL constitution and contest rules that requires high school coaches to be full-time employees of the school board of the school which the team represents. Three people with direct knowledge of the situation told The News that Keller athletes were training with their club team — Lakeside Aquatic Club — during school hours and at a school facility.
Being coached by a club coach during what is supposed to be a high school practice would be a violation of the UIL rule on full-time employees. A Keller roster for 2024-25 that is online shows 19 boys and 15 girls who are with the Lakeside Aquatic Club.
Multiple parents said Keller athletes were enrolled in an athletics class at Keller but would use that time to train with their club team. The parents asked not to be identified because of fear of retaliation against their children.
A Keller ISD spokesperson said in an email to The News on Monday that several steps were approved by the DEC to improve the areas in question, which included a change in coach. Keller ISD had previously accepted the resignation of coach Jamie Shults, who led Keller to a historic sweep of the 6A team state titles.
Keller became the third school in UIL history to sweep the team titles in the top classification in the same year, ing The Woodlands and Southlake Carroll. It was the third consecutive team state championship for the Keller boys.
Keller ISD’s action plan calls for additional training with KISD Natatorium management on UIL rules regarding coaching expectations and monitoring during school hours. And there will be increased oversight of morning and afternoon workouts by the KISD athletics department and Keller High School athletic coordinators.
There will be updates to all Keller ISD club rental agreements, beginning with the 2025-26 school year, that state that club coaches are not allowed on deck, in locker rooms, or in the pool area with KISD students during school hours without prior approval.