MHS coach resigned after allegations involving ‘missing funds’

A former Maricopa High School basketball coach resigned late last year after complaints and an external investigation turned up allegations of “mishandling and missing funds collected personally by him.”

Jason Royal left MHS in December and Maricopa Unified School District did not release any details behind his departure because it was a personnel matter.

In a letter to parents that was forwarded to InMaricopa today, MUSD Chief Financial Officer Jacob Harmon said parent’s complaints led to an external investigation. MUSD legal counsel oversaw the probe.

“The investigation has concluded; the findings align with the concerns expressed by parents and constitute a clear violation of both [MUSD] Governing Board Policy and the Parent Support Group and Booster Club Operations Manual,” Harmon said in the letter. “As a result of the investigation, Mr. Royal has resigned his position with the district.”

Royal has not been arrested and formal charges have not been filed against him.
Harmon said the investigations findings have been turned over to Maricopa Police Department and the Arizona State Board of Education.

School administrators scheduled a special parental meeting to allow parents to ask questions, express concerns and “learn about options moving forward.”

The meeting is at 5 p.m. Thursday in the MUSD District Office Governing Board Room, 44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. It is not open to the general public.

An MUSD profile of Royal said he came to Maricopa from Chicago in 2021.

“Growing up his home life was centered on faith in God and family,” the profile states. “Early on, it was evident he developed two interests — basketball and education. He excelled in his education by attending and graduating from Gordon Technical High School, Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts in marketing communication and University of Phoenix with a master’s in education. His basketball and collegiate playing career included four years of high school basketball at Gordon Tech and Football at Eastern Illinois University.”

“Coach Jay,” as he was known, said he coached more than 15 years, with a stint at Western Illinois as girls’ basketball grad assistant/player development coach. From 2013 to 2017, he said he was the head coach for the Wheatland Wizards. In 2017, he joined the Metea Valley staff as the assistant girl’s varsity coach.

“Coach Jay brings a wealth of knowledge of team strategy development, player coaching, leadership, and recruitment,” the profile states.