Former Farragut football coach Geoff Courtney knew about the hazing incident that led to the arrest of “numerous” football players on Oct. 30.
Courtney resigned from the football program on Nov. 3, a day after a student’s mother reported the incident to school officials on Nov. 2.
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“After the football game, I was made aware of the situation that occurred, an incident that occurred at the end of the school day on Friday before the game,” Courtney told Knox News on Nov. 4. “That report was sent from the guardian to myself, our athletic director, our principal, and our grade level principal. We sent that on to Knox County Sherriff’s Office, and they began their investigation first thing on Monday.”
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Sevier County’s Grady Clark (17) and teammates ready to take the field for the TSSAA high school football game against Farragut on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Sevier County’s Grady Clark (17) and teammates ready to take the field for the TSSAA high school football game against Farragut on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Farragut’s Fisher Smith (19) leads his teammates onto the field to mark the start of a TSSAA high school football game against Sevier County on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Farragut’s Carter Collier (26) carries the ball as Sevier County’s Justice Kelley (4) comes in for the tackle during a TSSAA high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Sevier County’s Parker Newman (6) and Zach Banks (0) celebrate Newman’s touchdown during a TSSAA high school football game against Farragut on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Farragut’s Hayes Sharp (15) hands off to Carter Collier (26) during a TSSAA high school football game against Sevier County on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Farragut cheerleaders and dance team mambers lead the crowd in cheers during a TSSAA high school football game between Farragut and Sevier County on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Sevier County’s Cooper Newman (7) takes the snap during a TSSAA high school football game against Farragut on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Sevier County’s Parker Newman (6) runs the ball in for a touchdown during the TSSAA high school football game against Farragut on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Sevier County and Farragut fans watch a TSSAA high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Farragut football coach Geoff Courtney watches from the sideline during a TSSAA high school football game against Sevier County on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Sevier County’s Brayden Maples (2) looks for running room during a TSSAA high school football game against Farragut on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Young Sevier County fans watch the action during a TSSAA high school football game against Farragut on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Sevier County’s Nathan Patterson (15) is stopped by Farragut’s Logan Schroeder (41) during a TSSAA high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Farragut’s Kaden Renfro (40) celebrates after making a defensive stop against Sevier County during a TSSAA high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Sevier County football coach Todd Loveday paces the sideline during the TSSAA high school football game against Farragut on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Sevier County’s Jaxson Perry (8) goes down on a tackle by Farragut’s Mason Swor (13) in a TSSAA high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Farragut vs Sevier Co. football in Tennessee high school game, Week 1
Sevier County’s Brayden Maples (2) makes a catch during a TSSAA high school football game against Farragut on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
KCSO finished its investigation on Nov. 3. All the students charged were members of the football team, made up of freshmen and one senior, according to Knox County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Justin Pratt . They were charged with misdemeanor assault, and two students were additionally charged with misdemeanor harassment.
Courtney said the “details of the investigation have not been made known to me.” He also said it did not influence his decision to resign from the football program.
“The timing of it is not ideal, but ultimately my decision to resign has been performance based and my own personal decision of what I think is best for this program and myself. It had nothing to do with the incident that occurred. I’ve not been put on leave. I’ve not been forced out. It’s totally a decision I reached over the weekend while all this was going on.”
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Courtney had a meeting with the seniors before making his resignation public on Nov. 3. He said he did not address the hazing incident with them.
Knox County Schools will determine the terms of any school suspensions. The cases will now be handled in juvenile court.
Courtney, a Farragut graduate, was hired as the coach following his father Eddie Courtney’s retirement in the spring of 2024. Geoff Courtney was an assistant for 15 years and served as the offensive coordinator for seven years prior to the promotion.
Through Courtney’s three seasons, Farragut had a record of 8-24. The Admirals finished 1-9 this season, missing the playoffs.
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Tyler Whetstone and Caitlyn Meisner contributed to this story.
