GALESBURG, Ill. — The Galesburg Community School District and football coach Derrek Blackwell have come to a resignation agreement that pays out $50,000 to Blackwell and ends his tenure as coach.
The school district and Blackwell agreed to the resignation agreement on June 5, and it became effective on June 7. As part of the agreement, the district will pay Blackwell $50,000. At the same time, Blackwell resigns from his district positions as boys varsity football coach, boys assistant track coach, 7th-grade boys basketball coach and security officer at Galesburg Junior Senior High School.
As part of the agreement, Blackwell releases the school board from any legal claims. The agreement also states that there is no admission of guilt from any parties.
The resignation comes after Blackwell was arrested on Tuesday, Apr. 23, when Galesburg police responded to Blackwell's residence after receiving a domestic violence report. According to the report, the victim told police that Blackwell pushed them down. Officers say they were able to observe two injuries to the victim's face and knee. Blackwell denied touching the person, according to the police report. Due to the victim's statement and visible injuries, police placed Blackwell under arrest.
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