Embattled Damascus High School Replaces Athletic Director

GERMANTOWN, MD — Damascus High School — which has been at the epicenter of one of Montgomery County's most shocking rape cases with criminal charges filed against student athletes — has a new athletic director. The school announced it has hired Clifford Elgin, formerly the assistant athletic director at Clarksburg High School.

"Mr. Elgin is extremely excited to bring his experiences to Damascus and work collaboratively with our student-athletes, coaches, parents and guardians, staff members, and the entire Damascus community to move our program forward," Principal Kevin Yates said in a letter to parents.

Four 15-year-old boys are accused of raping several of their teammates with a broom handle in a hazing ritual called "brooming" on Oct. 31, 2018. Both the State's Attorney's office and the county school system have launched investigations into allegations of assault, bullying, and hazing at the high school.

Elgin will replace Joe Doody, who served as Damascus High School's athletic director at the time of the alleged locker room attacks.

At a press conference in May, Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Jack Smith said there was no direct supervision of the boys' locker room, which overtly contradicts the extracurricular supervision protocols enforced by the school system.

"Between approximately 2:50 p.m. and 3:15 p.m., the boys' locker room at Damascus High School was without any direct adult supervision. This period is after the varsity football team leaves the locker room to start their practice and before the (junior varsity) football team reports to the practice field," Smith said.

It was during that 25-minute period that he said the alleged attacks happened.

"While there was nothing to suggest the coaches could have reasonably expected a sexual assault to occur in the locker room in the absence of supervision, the lack of protocols in place to ensure coverage in the locker room was unacceptable," Smith said.

Since news of the alleged locker room attacks broke, there have been multiple staff shakeups. One of the biggest changes involved Damascus High School Principal Casey Crouse, who resigned on May 7. Though Crouse has transitioned to another position in the school system, she will receive the same salary, which is $160,763, as when she was principal, Bethesda Beat reported.

A couple of staff members in the athletic program also weren't sparred.

Vincent Colbert, the junior varsity football coach, has been let go, according to Smith.

So has Doody, who was previously placed on administrative leave. While Doody has been fired, Smith said he will remain in the school system as a teacher. It is unclear where the former athletic director will be placed.

Elgin will be replacing Doody as athletic director.

In addition to these changes, the entire football program will be under probationary oversight by the MCPS Systemwide Athletics Unit for the next academic year.

SEE ALSO:

• Damascus Locker Room Unsupervised During Assault: Superintendent
• Embattled Principal Resigns Amid Hazing Sex Assault Scandal
• Locker Room Rape, Abusive Behavior To Be Investigated By Firm
• Broomstick Rape Case: Damascus Teen To Be Tried As Juvenile
• Broomstick Rape Case: 2nd Damascus Teen To Be Tried As Juvenile
• Locker Room Rape Case: Third Teen To Be Tried As Juvenile
• Locker Room Rape Case: ADHD Defense Called 'Offensive'