Amherst hiring embattled former Kearney coach as girls basketball coach

AMHERST, Neb. (KSNB) - Amherst Public Schools is hiring JD Carson to coach its girls basketball team, despite controversy related to his resignation from the same job at Kearney High School.

Amherst Superintendent Matt Gordon confirmed the report Thursday, telling Local4 that Carson would also teach science. Gordon said Carson’s hire still needs to be approved by the Amherst School Board at its meeting May 13 and that Kearney Public Schools would need to release Carson from his contract.

Carson resigned as KHS girls basketball coach in November 2023 amid allegations of inappropriate relationships with members of the team. In February, Carson filed a civil lawsuit in Buffalo County alleging slander and invasion of privacy. The portion of the lawsuit which name a fellow Kearney Public Schools teacher was dismissed in March. However, another portion of the lawsuit naming “John or Jane Doe” remains. A hearing on a procedural matter in that lawsuit is also scheduled May 13.

When asked about the controversy surrounding Carson in Kearney, Gordon said he was not concerned about it.