Springfield Catholic soccer coach placed on administrative leave, mandatory report filed

SPRINGFIELD (MO)
Springfield News-Leader [Springfield MO]

May 18, 2022

By Wyatt D. Wheeler

Mike Hines, a teacher at Immaculate Conception Catholic elementary school and head soccer coach at Springfield Catholic, has been placed on administrative leave amid a diocesan conduct investigation.

“With the presumption of innocence, Hines was placed on administrative leave on Monday in accordance with the Safe Environment Policy and Procedures of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau,” according to a statement issued by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. 

“According to diocesan policy and procedures, the incident has been reported (to) the Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline and a confidential TIPS report was filed through the diocesan online “TIPS” reporting portal,” the statement says. 

Hines was hired in August 2015 as a boys and girls soccer coach at Springfield Catholic High School. He also teaches physical education at Immaculate Conception Catholic School.

According to an online bio, Hines is originally from Neosho where he played soccer and wrestled. He has more than 30 years of high school soccer coaching experience with a long tenure at Kickapoo High as a boys’ and girls’ assistant and he helped start the boys’ and girls’ soccer programs at Republic in 2010 before taking over at Catholic in 2015.

A spokesperson for the Springfield Police Department said Wednesday morning that no police report has been filed.

A Change.org petition was started in support of Hines which has collected over 475 signatures as of Wednesday afternoon. A description for the petition states that Hines should be “given a second chance” while noting that “many people are upset and sad about this.” The petition was created on Tuesday.

Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or Twitter at @WyattWheeler_NL. He’s also the co-host of Sports Talk on Jock Radio weekdays from 4-6 p.m.

https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2022/05/18/catholic-soccer-coach-placed-leave-after-child-abuse-report/9822191002/