Former coach owes over $50,000 to Iowa City schools for facility fees, state audit shows

IOWA CITY - A former City High School volleyball coach did not pay over $50,000 in fees for using Iowa City Community School District facilities while operating an unaffiliated summer league, a state audit released Tuesday reported.

Craig Pitcher, currently the physical education teacher at Horn Elementary School, did not pay the facility usage fees from January 2011 to June 2018 while operating the Old Capitol League, the audit found.

Pitcher, however, told auditors no one approached him to discuss an approval process or the need to pay facility rent or provide insurance for the league.

Pitcher held two bank accounts for the Old Capitol League and Little Hawk Volleyball club, according to the audit. Both organizations used district facilities, equipment and a school logo.

In April 2018, the district was alerted to the bank accounts, and Pitcher was directed to turn over statements and debit cards associated with them to the district's business office. An audit was requested by the Iowa City district.

The accounts did not include any funds that should have been deposited with the district, according to the audit.

Pitcher, who began working for the district in 2002, was suspended from his coaching duties effective July 10, 2018, but remains employed with the district.

The Old Capitol League was established in summer 2004 and ran for six to seven weeks each summer at the City High gym. Registration for the league, which had eight to 10 teams, was $250 per team or $400 if a school entered two teams, and payments were mailed to City High School addressed to Pitcher, the audit said.

The bank account was established in 2003 by Pitcher with his Social Security number, titled Craig Pitcher DBA Old Capitol League.

The league was considered a nonprofit, non-school partner and was required to pay an hourly rate for facility usage and a custodial fee for events, coming to $7,200 for each season, the audit said.

Pitcher also established a bank account with his Social Security number for the Little Hawk Volleyball Club, a nonprofit organization serving students within the Iowa City district. The club is allowed to use district facilities at no cost to the club.

The state audit also found improper disbursement from the City High volleyball activity fund between July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2018. This included a $152 reimbursement to Pitcher for sherpa throw blankets from J.C. Penney, purchased as 'senior gifts.” According to the Department of Education, it is not proper for a district to pay for gifts.

The audit recommended, among other things, the district review the listing of affiliated groups annually and continue to provide a rules handbook. The district should require the groups to acknowledge they received and reviewed the handbook, the audit recommended.

In a statement Tuesday, district officials said they support recommendations in the auditor's report and 'will continue to provide guidance to affiliate groups through the use of an Affiliate Organization Handbook regarding the use of District facilities.”

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