West Monroe (Louisiana) football coach placed on leave after player suffers heat-related issue

Rebels have had four players hospitalized this summer

West Monroe (Louisiana) head football coach Todd Garvin was placed on administrative leave by school administrators on Tuesday.

The announcement of Garvin being placed on administrative leave "until further notice" by West Monroe principal Dan Lane came on the heels of a situation during the Rebels' practice on Monday, in which a player had to be taken to a local hospital due to heat-related issues.

It was also the fourth time this season a West Monroe player had to be taken to the hospital due to heat-related issues. Earlier this summer, two players received fluids for dehydration, and another player was transferred to a hospital in Shreveport after still experiencing symptoms.

In an interview with The Ouachita Citizen following the third issue involving a player, Garvin accepted total responsibility.

“I accept full responsibility for any judgment or any decisions that are made concerning the three that ended up seeking medical attention,” Garvin said to The Ouachita Citizen. “I always consider player safety as the most important thing to me.”

A former West Monroe assistant, Garvin became the Rebels' coach in the offseason after having served the previous two seasons as the coach at nearby Ouachita Parish High School, reaching the Class 5A quarterfinals his first season and the second round of the Division I non-select playoffs in 2022.

In Garvin's debut game as the Rebels' coach last Friday, West Monroe defeated Sterlington, 14-3.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Davis was named the interim coach with Garvin being placed on leave. The Rebels will play at East Ascension this Friday.

(Feature photo by Jimmy Jones)

-- Buck Ringgold | buck@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveLA