Report: Oregon high school football coach alleged to have stolen more than $8,000 from students, coworkers
New details have emerged after South Albany High School football coach David Younger was arrested and charged with two counts of theft and another count of criminal trespass Wednesday.
The Democrat Herald in Albany reported Friday that Younger is alleged to have stolen more than $8,000 from school property going back to August, citing a probably cause affidavit filed this week in Linn County Circuit Court.
Victims ranged from football players in his program, to students, to a fellow teacher and a coach. The funds came from a football team fundraiser, a stolen iPhone from a student and petty cash.
In total, he is alleged to have stolen $8,407, the Democrat Herald reported, citing the affidavit. Younger was placed on administrative leave.
The newspaper also reports that Younger told South Albany resource officer Jenn Williams, who conducted the initial investigation, that he was addicted to opiates and had been using Kratom, a legal herbal substance which the National Institute on Drug Abuse says is used to manage drug withdrawal symptoms.
The investigation was triggered when Williams alerted school and district administrators that Younger was seen by security footage entering and re-entering a "girls basketball room" in a suspicious manner in the midst of a series of unresolved reported thefts at the school, where Younger is a physical education teacher.
"Any further action taken by the district as a result of APD’s investigation will be in accordance with board policy and with guidance from legal counsel," Greater Albany Public Schools said in a statement Thursday.
Some of the funds alleged to have been stolen were returned. Younger's wife, the newspaper reports, returned an envelope with cash labeled "football fundraiser 2023" a week after police began investigating.
Younger, who has been the school's co-head football coach since 2021, is set to return to court Feb. 12 and will seek a plea deal, according to The Democrat Herald.
This is a developing story.
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ORIGINAL STORY - Thursday, Jan. 4, 4:06 p.m.
An Oregon high school football coach is alleged to have taken thousands of dollars last year, including funds the program brought in through fundraising.
South Albany (Oregon) head football coach David Younger was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of felony first-degree theft and a count of misdemeanor second-degree criminal trespass, The Albany Democrat-Herald first reported.
Younger was placed on administrative leave.
Citing court documents, the newspaper reported the victims included student athletes and a physical education teacher, and that he stole cash and an iPhone valuing more than $2,000 over multiple occasions last year.
Greater Albany Public Schools said in a statement Wednesday that in late November it was made aware of "suspicious financial activity" and turned over information to the Albany Police Department.
Younger returned to South Albany in 2021 for his second stint as head coach, this time serving as co-head coach with Jeff Louber. He went 28-42 and won two Mid-Willamette Conference titles from 2013-19 before becoming an assistant coach at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.
Here is the full statement from Greater Albany Public Schools released Wednesday:
The following is a statement from Greater Albany Public Schools regarding a staff member who was placed on administrative leave.
At the end of November 2023, Greater Albany Public Schools became aware of suspicious financial activity at South Albany High School. District officials presented the information to the Albany Police Department who conducted an investigation.
Per district policy, SAHS teacher and football coach David Younger was placed on administrative leave. Any further action taken by the district as a result of APD’s investigation will be in accordance with board policy and with guidance from legal counsel. The district does not comment on personnel issues.
The safety and well-being of our students and staff remains the district’s first priority. If you have any information that may be relevant to this case, please contact School Resource Officer Williams at the Albany Police Department at 541-917-7680.
Lead photo by Leon Neuschwander.
